Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) – Prevention & Treatment FAQ COVID-19 and Pregnancy:
Question: What is the risk to pregnant women of getting COVID-19? Is it easier for pregnant women to become ill with the disease? If they become infected, will they be more sick than other people?
Answer: We do not currently know if pregnant women have a greater chance of getting sick from COVID-19 than the general public nor whether they are more likely to have serious illness as a result. Pregnant women experience changes in their bodies that may increase their risk of some infections. With viruses from the same family as COVID-19, and other viral respiratory infections, such as influenza, women have had a higher risk of developing severe illness. It is always important for pregnant women to protect themselves from illnesses.
Question: How can pregnant women protect themselves from getting COVID-19?
Answer: Pregnant women should do the same things as the general public to avoid infection. You can help stop the spread of COVID-19 by taking these actions:
– Cover your cough (using your elbow is a good technique)
– Avoid people who are sick
– Wear a face mask if you are ill
– Clean your hands often using soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
You can find additional information on preventing COVID-19 disease at CDC’s (Prevention for 2019 Novel Coronavirus)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html
Question: Can COVID-19 cause problems for a pregnancy?
Answer: We do not know at this time if COVID-19 would cause problems during pregnancy or affect the health of the baby after birth.
Question: Can COVID-19 be passed from a pregnant woman to the fetus or newborn?
Answer: We still do not know if a pregnant woman with COVID-19 can pass the virus that causes COVID-19 to her fetus or baby during pregnancy or delivery. No infants born to mothers with COVID-19 have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. In these cases, which are a small number, the virus was not found in samples of amniotic fluid or breastmilk.
Question: If a pregnant woman has COVID-19 during pregnancy, will it hurt the baby?
Answer: We do not know at this time what if any risk is posed to infants of a pregnant woman who has COVID-19. There have been a small number of reported problems with pregnancy or delivery (e.g. preterm birth) in babies born to mothers who tested positive for COVID-19 during their pregnancy. However, it is not clear that these outcomes were related to maternal infection. … See more
The best way to prevent COVID-19 infection is to avoid exposure to this virus and use healthy habits.