The coronavirus pandemic has been an unsettling time for all. This ‘invisible enemy’ has created social, economic and healthcare havoc. As countries go through complete lockdowns, and increasing fresh cases and fatalities are experienced, it is natural that some of you who are pregnant may feel anxious or worried.
It is no secret that Pregnant women have been recently listed as a vulnerable group with regards to COVID-19. Syrona hopes to answer some of the burning questions you might have curated by our experts.
1. Do pregnant women experience any specific symptoms of coronavirus infection in particular?
For now, there is no concrete evidence to show that pregnant women suffer any additional symptoms to the common symptoms associated with COVID-19 such as cough, fever, shortness of breath, headache, and loss of sense of smell. If you have severe difficulty in breathing or persisting pain/pressure in the chest, please seek medical attention immediately.
There is not enough evidence to show that the virus is transmitted from mothers to their babies during pregnancy or birth. A study conducted in Wuhan showed that none of the infants developed serious clinical symptoms such as fever, cough, diarrhoea, or abnormal radiologic or haematologic evidence, and all four infants were well at the time of hospital discharge. Hence, based on current knowledge, it is unlikely that the virus will cause serious problems for your baby if you are diagnosed with the infection.
3. What can I do to prevent coronavirus? Should I take special precautions?
Pregnant women should follow the same guidance given by the government for the general population. That includes regular hand washing, avoiding contact with those displaying symptoms of coronavirus, avoiding non-essential use of public transport, working from home if possible and social distancing. Gatherings with friends and family should be limited. Also, it is recommended that pregnant women in their third trimester strictly comply with social distancing.
4. Should I continue following my pregnancy check-up routines?
You should continue your pregnancy check-up routines if you are well. The health service is now facing unprecedented levels of demand, which may lead to delays in appointments with your maternity team. Therefore, we advise you to contact them if you have any routine scans or visits due in the coming days. Remember that maternity care is essential; not attending antenatal care may cause harm to you, your baby or both of you. However, if you have symptoms of coronavirus infection, you should postpone routine visits until after the isolation period is over.
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