Everything You Need to Know About COVID-19 and Pregnancy
Pregnancy is known to be an immunocompromised state in general. Many blood parameters are bound to decrease during pregnancy and women are more prone to develop gestational diabetes which could make women more viable to diseases. Usually, the risk if transmission of infection is more during the third trimester while the severity of an infection especially on the baby is more during the first trimester. Let’s look into the course and effect of COVID-19 during pregnancy.
Everything You Need to Know About COVID-19 and Pregnancy
COVID 19, a pandemic that is still being studied in detail has a wide range of impact on all age groups. The risk of transmission of infection during pregnancy is found to be relatively low. However, the bad part is that if the disease if transmitted can cause an exaggerated effect during pregnancy compared to the normal population. Centers for disease control and prevention has concluded that the rate of complication of COVID-19 during pregnancy is elevated. Lungs are found to be more commonly involved. Recent studies have shown that percentage of ground glass opacities in CT chest scans is significantly more during pregnancy and can attribute to both short term acute respiratory distress and long-term fibrosis. Impaired lung function can affect the duration of labour making it difficult for the mothers to deliver the baby.
Black or Hispanic pregnant women are found to be more affected than the other races. The reason for this incidence has still not been discovered. The complications can affect the entire course of pregnancy and other co-existing comorbidities such as diabetes, malnutrition, gestational hypertension, other infections such as HIV, maternal tuberculosis and TORCH.
During pregnancy it can be more difficult if the patient is tested positive for COVID because of the wide range of symptoms. It can vary from slight cold, sore throat, headache diarrhoea, loss of appetite and a mild rise in body temperature to severe lung consolidation, fibrosis, thrombosis, interleukin storm, cardiac arrest and respiratory failure. COVID-19 has been associated with increased clots formation that predisposes the patient to stroke thrombosis and embolism. This effect can be exaggerated during labour and post-partum.
It is best to alarm a pregnant woman to take an RT-PCR test if she falls under any of the following situations:
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In contact with a person who has been tested COVID positive recently
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Any of the above-mentioned symptoms
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Recent international travel
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Been in a hospital setting for more than 3 days
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If she happens to be a front line worker.
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If the person was tested positive only a few days before pregnancy.
What to Do if Pregnant Women is Tested Positive?
It is best to completely monitor the vitals including the oxygen saturation and blood pressure. If the expected mother is maintained within the normal range of saturation (95-100) then she can be considered stable keeping in mind the presentation of symptoms. The symptoms are treated symptomatically. If the women happens to desaturate or if any of the other vitals become grossly abnormal the patient is immediately admitted in COVID care Centers nearby. Based on the severity of the disease the patient is treated with oxygen support. Furthermore, if the woman is nearing her due date of delivery, it is essential to keep in mind the status of the baby. COVID-19 in pregnancy is associated with premature birth as well. Hence if the heart of the baby begins to drop the mother should be immediately taken by for delivery by emergency C section. Throughout the labour the goal of the doctor is to maintain the oxygen saturation of mother more than 94%.
Chest physiotherapy and lung function improvising exercises can improve the expanding capacity of lungs. Prevention is better than cure. During the period of pregnancy, it is better to stay extra careful and aware of your surroundings. Wearing a mask and vaccinating yourself before getting pregnant can reduce the risk by a huge number.
Pregnant women need to be extremely cautious during the pandemic, the most important thing is to keep calm and follow best hygienic practices. With proper precautions and right practices CVOID-19 can be prevented. if you are tested positive , get in touch with your health care provider right away .
Recently, two of my friends have delivered and I have seen them following all these precautions. Pregnancy during cover is challenging. But as you said “he most important thing is to keep calm and follow best hygienic practices.” should be the proper way of handling it.
These are very testing times indeed. Pregnant women should be extremely cautious. This is a disease that affects anyone and everyone who is not following covid appropriate behaviour. Thank you for listing out the concerns in detail.
Very good article. Every pregnant woman and her family should read it.
such an informative post. I agree that covid infection during pregnancy is scary and it is must that pregnant women take all necessary precautions and follow all the advices given by physician. thanks a lot dear for sharing good info with this post. will help lots of pregnant women to be cautious and take extra care.
There have been many pregnancies in our home during Covid and it indeed takes extra precautions to keep both the mom and child healthy and safe.
Anyone expecting during this pendamic needs all the more care and if someone to guide what to do and what not to do it would be great. This Post can be very useful to all of them.
Pregnancy comes with its own challenges and complications. Now in the times of Covid, pregnancy is fraught with unknown risks engineered by the pandemic. This is a really informative and useful post for would-be moms in these times.
You have well penned down a piece of extremely crucial information regarding pregnancy during Covid times. I have seen one of my friends had a huge struggle in 2020 during her pregnancy days. I wish I could share such info with them at that time.
Taking care during pregnancy is the top most priority and now during this time of pandemic it required extra care and I am glad you shared this!!
This is a helpful blog for the pregnant lady; it’s better to know everything about covid beforehand.
Pregancy in this pandemic can be really risk and scary for women and the family. having all the details and information associated really helps to deal with this added stress during pregnancy. Much needed post Hema.
It is a real challenge for pregnant women these days of pandemic, specially if they are tested positive. This is a very helpful post.
I can resonate with what you have shared here. I am in my second trimester and have gone through the scare of this virus. Strong immunity is a must to fight this virus.
This is really helpful for women. Last year one of my friend got pregnant during the covid period and she faced lots of anxiety. Your advices are very helpful.
This is such a useful post for expecting mothers. I am sharing with my sis-in-law right now. One must know what to do if she is covid positive.
A very informative post I must say that every pregnant lady should read. These are testing times and in this pandemic no one can think or act as if they won’t fall prey to COVID 19. so precaution is surely better.