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Home » Harvard Health Blog » Pregnant and worried about the new coronavirus? - Harvard Health Blog

Pregnant and worried about the new coronavirus?

POSTED MARCH 16, 2020, 2:30 PM , UPDATED MAY 12, 2020, 12:00 AM

Huma Farid, MD
Contributor
 

Babar Memon, MD, MSc

Contributor

COVID-19, the disease caused by a new coronavirus, has rapidly spread globally and is
now a pandemic, according to the World Health Organization. Many of my pregnant
patients have expressed concerns, both for themselves and their babies, about the
impact of COVID-19 on their health. To answer often-asked questions about pregnancy
and the new coronavirus, I’ve teamed up with my husband, an infectious disease
 specialist and internist. Together, we reviewed the extremely limited data available to
provide evidence-based responses below.

Please remember, recommendations and guidelines will continue to change as we learn

more about this illness.

What can I do to protect myself from catching the coronavirus?

Can I travel for my baby-moon?

Should I reschedule my baby shower because of the coronavirus?

What should I do if I have a fever or cough? What if I’ve traveled from a place where the
virus is widespread or have been in contact with a person confirmed to have COVID-
19?

What is my risk of becoming very ill if I do have COVID-19?

Does becoming ill with COVID-19 increase risk of miscarriage or other complications?

If I become sick, what is the risk of passing the virus on to my fetus or newborn?

Should I continue to have prenatal visits? I’m worried about being exposed to COVID-
19.

I am worried that doctors, even obstetricians, will be diverted in an emergency setting

and may not be available when I am delivering. Will that be the case?

I am worried about spending time in the hospital after delivery. Could this increase my
risk of exposure to COVID-19?

If I test positive for COVID-19, can I breastfeed my baby?

How the coronavirus spreads

 The virus is carried in respiratory droplets transmitted by sneezing and coughing. If

people are nearby, droplets might land in their mouths or noses or possibly be inhaled.
 Viral particles called aerosols may float or drift in the air when an infected person talks,
sings, or breathes. People nearby may inhale aerosols.
 Research shows the virus can live on surfaces and may be spread when a person
touches those surfaces, then touches their face.
 The virus may be shed in saliva, semen, and feces; whether it is shed in vaginal fluids
isn’t known.  Kissing can transmit the virus (you obviously would be in very close contact with
the infected person). Transmission of the virus through feces, or during vaginal or anal
intercourse or oral sex appears to be extremely unlikely at this time.
Current evidence suggests that the incubation period of the virus is anywhere from two
to 14 days. It’s possible that someone could be infected but not have any symptoms
(presymptomatic or asymptomatic) and be able to spread the virus.
Handwashing, social distancing, and other ways to help prevent the spread of
coronavirus

What can I do to protect myself from catching the coronavirus?

The most important step is to practice excellent hand hygiene by frequently washing

hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. Avoid touching your face, especially your
eyes, mouth, and nose. Public health officials urge people to tightly limit gatherings and
to stay home as much as possible. Social distancing is important to limit the spread of
the virus. It’s safe to go out for walks — just try to remain six feet away from anyone
who doesn’t live with you. Many states now require people to wear a cloth mask in
public, especially in places where it’s hard to carefully observe social distancing. Even a
cloth mask, when used to cover the mouth and nose completely, helps protect you and
others.

If you have a mild cough or cold, stay at home and limit exposures to other people.
Sneeze and cough into a tissue that you discard immediately, or into your elbow, to
avoid making others sick. Hydration and adequate rest also are important in maintaining
the health of your immune system.

Can I travel for my baby-moon?

We recommend avoiding all travel at this time, given the concerns that the virus could
be widespread, and changing travel restrictions (see CDC travel advisories).

Should I reschedule my baby shower because of the coronavirus?

While a baby shower is a joyous and important occasion, public health agencies such
as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend social distancing
to limit the spread of the virus. Particularly in large gatherings, the risk of possible
exposure and infection is quite high. We recommend limiting social gatherings at this
time.

Concerns about becoming sick

What should I do if I have a fever or cough? What if I’ve traveled from a place
where the virus is widespread or have been in contact with a person confirmed to
have COVID-19?

The first step is to call your doctor’s office to inform them of your symptoms, travel, or
contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19. Do not simply go to your
doctor’s office. It is very important to limit the spread of the virus. Particularly if you have
symptoms, it is best to call your doctor first to determine whether you need testing
and/or to come in for evaluation. The American College of Obstetrician and
Gynecologists has provided all obstetricians with an algorithm for how to manage
pregnant patients who may have symptoms of COVID-19 or exposure to COVID-19,
and your obstetrician may be able to help you triage your symptoms over the phone.
 What is my risk of becoming very ill if I do have COVID-19?

Given that this is a novel virus, little is known about its impact on pregnant women. At
this time:

 No evidence shows that being pregnant increases a woman’s risk for getting COVID-19,
or her risk of developing severe symptoms if she has the disease.
 Experts think that pregnant women are just as likely as the general public to develop
symptoms if infected with the new coronavirus. Current information suggests symptoms are
likely to be mild to moderate, as is true for women (and men) in this age range who are not
pregnant.
The United Kingdom declared pregnant women a vulnerable patient population.
However, that statement is not based on any evidence demonstrating increased risk to
pregnant women from COVID-19. With the flu, data show pregnant women are likely to
experience more serious illness than the general population. Based on this data, some
experts are advising caution and suggesting that pregnant women may be vulnerable to
more serious illness if they get COVID-19. However, this is not based on any evidence
from COVID-19 cases, but on historical data from other viral infections. Given the lack
of evidence, we recommend that pregnant women continue to practice social distancing
and excellent hand hygiene.

If pregnant women who are health care providers are concerned about their risk of
exposure to COVID-19, we recommend that they discuss their concerns with their
supervisor. At this time, no US guidelines restrict pregnant health care workers’ ability to
care for patients.

Does becoming ill with COVID-19 increase risk of miscarriage or other

complications?

An increased risk of miscarriage or fetal malformations has not been documented in

pregnant women who are infected with COVID-19, according to the CDC. Based on
data from other coronaviruses, such as SARS and MERS, the American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists notes that pregnant women who get COVID-19 may
have a higher risk for some complications, such as preterm birth. However, this data is
extremely limited, and the infection may not be the direct cause of preterm birth.

If I become sick, what is the risk of passing the virus on to my fetus or newborn?

Currently, only small studies reporting on a limited number of cases are available to
answer many questions, including this one. Most of the women in these case reports
had COVID-19 during the third trimester of pregnancy.

 A study of nine pregnant women who were infected with COVID-19 and had symptoms
showed that none of their babies was affected by the virus. The virus was not present in
amniotic fluid, the babies’ throats, or in breast milk.
 Another study of 38 women infected with COVID-19 found that none of the newborns
tested positive for the disease.
 Two case reports of infants born to mothers infected with SARS-CoV-2 demonstrated
that the infants had elevated levels of antibodies to the virus but did not demonstrate any clinical
evidence of infection with the virus (see hereand here).
 Another case report analyzing 33 pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 found that
three of their newborns were also infected with the virus and had clinical signs of infection, as
well as confirmation of COVID-19 infection. It is unclear whether these newborns were infected
while in the womb or if these infections were acquired after birth, as the newborns were tested
when they were days old. The possibility of vertical transmission (passing the virus from mother
to baby) has not been ruled out.
The risk of passing the infection to a fetus appears to be very low. Currently there is no
evidence of any fetal malformations or effects due to maternal infection with COVID-19.

If a woman has an infection with a high fever during the first trimester, it’s safest to use
acetaminophen to lower temperature to avoid risk to the developing fetus.

Concerns about prenatal care, birth, and breastfeeding

Should I continue to have prenatal visits? I’m worried about being exposed to
COVID-19.

Prenatal visits are important to ensure maternal and fetal health. However, given the
current global pandemic we are facing, many obstetricians are either increasing the
interval between visits or encouraging telehealth visits. Ask your obstetric health
provider if you should buy a blood pressure cuff for use at home and monitor your
baby’s movements. If you have any concerns about your health or your baby’s health,
please call your obstetric team. We recommend that women talk to their obstetrician
about their prenatal care and continue to attend appointments as long as their
obstetrician feels it is appropriate.

I am worried that doctors, even obstetricians, will be diverted in an emergency

setting and may not be available when I am delivering. Will that be the case?

Hospitals are responsible for making contingency plans for emergencies that might
require diverting hospital staff. Ask your obstetric team about contingency plans at your
hospital. They should be able to keep you updated on any change in plans. At our
hospital, there is currently no plan for obstetricians to be redeployed. Obstetrics is an
essential component of health, and it is likely that a physician trained in obstetrics will
be present at the time of your baby’s birth. Ask your health care team about this.

I am worried about spending time in the hospital after delivery. Could this
increase my risk of exposure to COVID-19?

Hospital staff and your obstetric team are trying to minimize the number of people who
come to the hospital. There are rules to make sure that anyone who needs to evaluated
for COVID-19 will be isolated from other patients. All medical staff are working hard to
ensure that your risk of being exposed to COVID-19 is low.
 In the hospital, many precautions are being taken to minimize exposure risks. If you
choose to do so, it may be possible to go home sooner than you normally would after
birth, as long as you feel well and your birth was uncomplicated. Talk to your obstetric
team about this.

If I test positive for COVID-19, can I breastfeed my baby?

Currently, there is no evidence of the virus in breast milk. Given that the virus is spread
through respiratory droplets, mothers should wash their hands and consider wearing a
face mask to minimize infants’ exposure to the virus. The Royal College of Obstetricians
& Gynaecologists recommends that mothers infected with COVID-19 express
breastmilk to allow someone else to feed the baby. (Be sure to use proper hand hygiene
and cleaning of breast pump parts.)

However, the CDC states that handwashing and wearing a face mask should minimize
risks to the infant.

For more information about the new coronavirus and COVID-19, please see Harvard
Health Publishing’s Coronavirus Resource Center.

Related Information: Harvard Women’s Health Watch

 4.71k

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COMMENTS
9
TOPICS

Coronavirus and COVID-19 | Parenting | Pregnancy | Women's Health

 Comments:

1. POSTED MARCH 18TH, 2020 AT 5:28 AM

Kassi

I delivered my baby lady Friday, March 13 via c-section. I was wondering about
concerns for me due to having a surgery?

2. POSTED MARCH 18TH, 2020 AT 2:45 AM

kaustubh

my wife is 6 week pregnant is virus give problem in Pregnancy and the new
coronavirus affect new born who is developing in body

3. POSTED MARCH 18TH, 2020 AT 1:27 AM

Jane smith

Hi I’m currently 33 weeks pregnant and due to have a c -section what are the risks for
catching the c-19 and staying in hospital for a few nights is worry and stressing me out

4. POSTED MARCH 17TH, 2020 AT 9:08 PM

Vanessa Holman

Thank you for this information! I know info is limited, but it’s slightly comforting to know
that so far no major issues aside from preterm birth have been reported with the baby.

5. POSTED MARCH 17TH, 2020 AT 8:30 AM

The observer

Due to what I’ve read for the past few months my observation is that there is likely a
reason y coronavirus does doesn’t affect children and I believe it might be due to
immunization.i believe the vaccine exists and we have outgrown the effectiveness of
the vaccines because of our age.i think we should to relook into this thing and if it’s
proven we should be vaccined again with which ever one works

6. POSTED MARCH 17TH, 2020 AT 4:49 AM

Stephen Thompson
 So my wife is pregnant who works from home, boris has said there could be problems
to pregnant women and to self isolate, myself I work all over the UK, what should I
do?? Obviously I don’t want to put her at risk when I’m at risk of contacting the virus,
should I self isolate also???

7. POSTED MARCH 16TH, 2020 AT 10:08 PM

Ali

This was really helpful – thank you for doing the research and sharing it.

Much appreciated!

8. POSTED MARCH 16TH, 2020 AT 9:36 PM

Oliver

Hi can you comment on the scenario of the newborn (once safely in this world)
contracting the virus from anyone other than the mother, and likely symptoms, health
risk for newborns from COVID-19? Would the absence of a strong immune system
mean there may not be transition during
birth but high risk right thereafter?

9. POSTED MARCH 16TH, 2020 AT 7:01 PM

Megan

So I’m worried too even go into a hospital or clinic for appointments I missed one
appointment due too the coronavirus outbreak is it safe to enter a hospital or clinic I
have so many concerns questions unanswered its stressing me out

Commenting has been closed for this post.

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