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Due to the changes that happen naturally during pregnancy, pregnant women are more likely to catch viral infections, since their immune system has less activity. However, in the case of SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus responsible for COVID-19, although the pregnant woman's immune system is more compromised, there seems to be no risk of developing more severe symptoms of the disease.
However, although there is no evidence of COVID-19 severity related to pregnancy, it is important that women adopt hygiene and precautionary habits to avoid contagion and transmission to others, such as washing hands with water and soap regularly and cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. See how to protect yourself from COVID-19.
Possible complications
To date, there are few reports of complications related to COVID-19 during pregnancy.
However, according to a study in the United States [1], it is possible that the new coronavirus causes clots to form in the placenta, which appear to reduce the amount of blood that is transported to the baby. Even so, the baby's development does not appear to be affected, with most babies born to mothers with COVID-19 having normal weight and development for gestational age.
Although the coronaviruses responsible for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV-1) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) have been linked to serious complications during pregnancy, such as renal complications, the need for hospitalization and endotracheal intubation, SARS-CoV-2 was not related to any complications. However, in the case of women who have more severe symptoms, it is important to contact the health service and follow the recommended guidelines.
Does the virus pass to the baby?
In a study of 9 pregnant women [2] who were confirmed with COVID-19, none of their babies tested positive for the new type of coronavirus, suggesting that the virus is not passed from the mother to the baby during pregnancy, nor delivery.
In that study, amniotic fluid, the baby's throat and breast milk were screened for the virus to see if there was any risk to the baby, however the virus was not found in any of these searches, which indicates that the risk of transmitting the virus to the baby during delivery or through breastfeeding is minimal.
Another study carried out with 38 pregnant women positive for SARS-CoV-2 [3] also indicated that the babies tested negative for the virus, confirming the hypothesis of the first study.
Can women with COVID-19 breastfeed?
According to the WHO [4] and some studies done with pregnant women [2,3], the risk of passing the infection by the new coronavirus to the baby appears to be very low and, therefore, it is advised that the woman breastfeed if she feels at good health conditions and wish it.
It is only recommended that the woman take some care when breastfeeding to protect the baby from other routes of transmission, such as washing hands before breastfeeding and wearing a mask while breastfeeding.
Symptoms of COVID-19 in pregnancy
The symptoms of COVID-19 in pregnancy vary from mild to moderate, with symptoms similar to those of people who are not pregnant, such as:
- Fever;
- Constant cough;
- Muscle pain;
- General malaise.
In some cases, diarrhea and difficulty in breathing were also observed, and it is important that in these situations the woman is followed up in the hospital. Know how to identify the symptoms of COVID-19.
How to avoid getting COVID-19 during pregnancy
Although there is no evidence that the symptoms presented by the woman are more severe during pregnancy, or that there may be complications for the baby, it is important that the woman takes measures to avoid catching the new coronavirus, such as:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for about 20 seconds;
- Avoid touching the eyes, mouth and nose;
- Avoid staying in an environment with many people and little air circulation.
In addition, it is important for the pregnant woman to rest, drink plenty of fluids and have healthy habits so that the immune system works correctly, being able to fight viral infections, such as COVID-19.
Learn more about what to do against the new coronavirus in the following video:
Created by: Tua Saúde Editorial Team
Bibliography>
- HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL. Pregnant and worried about the new coronavirus?. 2020. Available at:. Accessed on 20 Mar 2020
- CHEN, Huijun et al. Clinical characteristics and intrauterine vertical transmission potential of COVID-19 infection in nine pregnant women: a retrospective review of medical records. The Lancet. Vol 395. 2020
- CDC. Pregnancy & Breastfeeding - Information about Coronavirus Disease 2019. Available in: . Accessed on 20 Mar 2020
- JIAO, Jian. Under the epidemic situation of COVID-19, should special attention to pregnant women be given?. Journal of Medical Virology. 2020
- SCHWARTZ, David A. An Analysis of 38 Pregnant Women with COVID-19, Their Newborn Infants, and Maternal3 Fetal Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: Maternal Coronavirus Infections and Pregnancy Outcomes. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2020
- YANG, H .; WANG, C .; POON, L. Novel coronavirus infectionand pregnancy. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2020
- WHO. Pregnancy, Childbirth, breastfeeding and COVID-19. Available in: . Accessed on 25 May 2020
- SHANES, Elisheva D. et al .. Placental Pathology in COVID-19. American Journal of Clinical Pathology. 2020