Advice for pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic

By now, the general population is aware of the impact COVID-19 can have on our bodies and the protocols that should be followed if experiencing symptoms or if you have contracted COVID-19.

However, we wanted to find out more details on how COVID-19 affects pregnant women specifically. We spoke with Ms Ferha Saeed, an award-winning consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, to discuss what advice is available.
 

In this article, Ms Saeed sheds some light on the measures pregnant women should be taking to combat the chances of contracting it, how coronavirus might affect them and what should be done if you're pregnant and have the virus.
 

What advice should be given to pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The main advice for pregnant women in regards to COVID-19 is the same as for non-pregnant women. They should use their face masks and follow guidance on social distancing. They should continue to stay active and have a healthy diet, usually the same advice is given to all pregnant women. Pregnant women must continue to attend all visits of ultrasounds unless advised not to.
 

If you are pregnant and develop symptoms such as a high temperature, new cough, loss or change in sense of smell and taste, you should call 111 and will be advised. Tell your midwife or maternity team, if symptoms get worse or are not getting better, you might need to go to a hospital. You may like to call the NHS emergency team for further advice, call an ambulance or 999 if you're very unwell.
 

If a pregnant woman contracts COVID-19, how might it affect them?

If you're pregnant and contract coronavirus, it will affect you like it affects non-pregnant women, you may be asymptomatic, or you could have mild flu-like symptoms. A few women can have a more severe coronavirus infection because they're at higher risk. Pregnant women are more likely to go into intensive care than the non-pregnant population.
 

As for the effects of COVID-19 on the baby, there's currently no evidence of a risk of miscarriage. Transmission from mummy to baby during pregnancy or childbirth is not common. Current evidence suggests that how the baby is delivered doesn't affect chances of transmission either, neither does breastfeeding.
 

Most babies who develop COVID-19 early on are usually ok. However, there is a three times risk of having a premature birth if the pregnant woman has COVID-19 and is displaying symptoms. Pregnant women who are unwell at a higher risk of delivering babies prematurely. However, if a pregnant woman tests positive but feels well, the risk of delivering the baby early is not increased, and the chance of complications is low.
 

The risk of transmission to start with is very low. Usually, if a baby happens to be born early, they will most likely be admitted to an ICU, but the majority do well.
 

What should I do If I think I have it?

Stay home for 10 days, the test is available for everyone with symptoms. If you test positive, let the maternity clinic know, isolate for 10 days and if you have any deterioration in your health, have symptoms, or if you have other problems such as a urine infection, do contact the hospital. Most illnesses are self-limited, but if you're at high risk, if you're overweight or have a high BMI, if you're BAME or if you have a pre-existing medical problem, blood pressure, diabetes, it's important you tell the hospital. When you self-isolate, avoid contact with others for 10 days. Don't attend appointments but if you feel unwell, contact the hospital.
 

If you're pregnant and have to take children to school, social distancing must continue. You should especially have more consciousness if you're in the late pregnancy period.
 

Good hygiene and maintaining social distancing are fundamental. When you're dropping children off at school, stay away from children and their carers, try to avoid going to busy areas. Make sure you wash your hands and ask children to wash theirs when they come back from school. Use alcohol hand gel when there is no water or soap.
 

It should also be carefully considered whether your children should be attending school if they happen to be part of a high-risk population.
 

For more guidance during pregnancy, we recommend getting in contact with a highly regarded consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist such as Ms Ferha Saeed. Click here to visit her profile today.