Coronavirus and pregnancy – what you need to know
By Livia Gamble
As the number of people infected with coronavirus (COVID-19) rises, experts are doing their best to understand this new virus.
But if you are pregnant or trying to conceive, you might be wondering how COVID-19 could affect you.
Related: Coronavirus and babies: what we know so far
Advice for pregnant women
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy updated the Australian public on coronavirus today, streamed via the ABC Sydney Facebook page.
When a reporter asked what advice he had for pregnant women, he said, “Obviously pregnant women need to take particular care with their health. Any infection during pregnancy is a potential risk.
“However, unlike influenza, which has a very significant negative impact on pregnancy, the advice we’ve got out of China – which is probably where most of the data has come from – suggests there haven’t been any major issues when pregnant women have been infected.
“But of course, pregnant women should be careful.”
LIVE: Update on COVID-19 cases
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy providing an update on the Australian cases of coronavirus.For more: https://ab.co/2VXQfXM
Posted by ABC Sydney on Sunday, March 8, 2020
What else?
As well as Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy’s advice, here’s what else we know about coronavirus and pregnancy.
Remember that this is a new virus and there are still a lot of unanswered questions, especially when it comes to coronavirus and pregnancy.
As always, this information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. If you have any coronavirus symptoms or any concerns, call your doctor or ring the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
Are pregnant women more susceptible to coronavirus?
When you’re pregnant, it’s common for the immune system to weaken as your body works to make a baby. Unfortunately, this can make you more susceptible to getting sick.
A report published by the World Health Organization last week said there doesn’t seem to be a higher risk for pregnant women – but there’s a lot about this virus we don’t know.
“As opposed to Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, pregnant women do not appear to be at higher risk of severe disease. In an investigation of 147 pregnant women (64 confirmed, 82 suspected and 1 asymptomatic), 8% had severe disease and 1% were critical.”
Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there isn’t enough information about the virus and how it affects pregnant women.
“We do not have information from published scientific reports about the susceptibility of pregnant women to COVID-19. Pregnant women experience immunologic and physiologic changes which might make them more susceptible to viral respiratory infections, including COVID-19,” says the website.
Can I still get pregnant if I catch coronavirus?
Not enough research has been done to answer this question. If you are concerned, make an appointment with a GP or other health professional.
How can pregnant women protect themselves from coronavirus?
The advice for pregnant women is the same as everyone else: avoid people who are sick, and wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
“Pregnant women should engage in usual preventive actions to avoid infection like washing hands often and avoiding people who are sick”, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Can I give COVID-19 to my unborn child?
Again, there are a lot of unanswered questions, but there was a small study published in The Lancet journal. The results found “there is currently no evidence for intrauterine infection caused by vertical transmission in women who develop COVID-19 pneumonia in late pregnancy.”
As always, this information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. If you have any coronavirus symptoms, call your doctor or ring the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
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