PRGENANCY & COVID-19

Answers to Questions About Pregnancy & COVID-19

Pregnancy should be a time of joy and excitement – but it is also a time of many questions about doing what is best for your baby’s health. And, during these uncertain times, expectant parents are faced with an even greater number of worries and anxieties about pregnancy. The experienced and caring OBGYNs at AHA Women’s Health are here to put your mind at ease by answering your questions about pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic – so you can still enjoy experiencing the miracle of childbirth, despite the current health crisis.

Caring OBGYN Dr. Barbara Hannah, MD (“Dr. Bobbi”) and our compassionate team of certified nurse practitioners are here to ensure that your pregnancy and delivery experience is safe, comfortable and joy-filled no matter when your baby is born. In this article we answer some of our expectant parents’ most frequently asked questions about pregnancy and delivery during the coronavirus pandemic.

Is it “safe” to get pregnant during COVID-19, now that there is a vaccine?

For patients who are carefully planning their family, the initial distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine gives some hope that the world will be “almost back to normal” within the next 9 months. But, how rapidly and how widespread the virus will be distributed remains to be seen. So, determining when to start or add to your family remains a very personal decision.

Whether you are already pregnant, or are considering becoming pregnant, discussing the impact of the pandemic on your childbearing situation is best done with an experienced OBGYN like Dr. Bobbi. She can help you make the decisions that are safe, as well as right for the timing of your family.

Can I get the COVID-19 vaccine if I am pregnant?

Experts are currently in agreement that pregnant women or nursing mothers who want the COVID-19 vaccine can get one.

It should be noted that even though there is not yet much safety data on the vaccine in pregnant women, the CDC, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine all believe that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe for pregnant women.

This is because the coronavirus inoculations are “mRNA” vaccines, which are not “live” vaccines, and are therefore unlikely to pose a risk for women who are pregnant or for breastfeeding infants, according to the CDC.

So, while pregnant women were not included in the rapid testing and approval process of the COVID-19 vaccine, in the United States the decision whether to receive the vaccine will be left up to each woman’s own choice. Dr. Bobbi can help you make the choice that is right for you.

What happens if I get COVID-19 while I am pregnant?

The good news is that, so far, data indicates that pregnant women are somewhat less likely to contract the coronavirus than other people. The reason for this is not completely understood. Different experts speculate that this may be because of stronger immunity during pregnancy, or simply due to greater precautions taken by women who are carrying a child.

The less-good news is that pregnant women who do become sick with COVID-19 are at a somewhat greater risk for severe illness with the coronavirus – according to the CDC and the Mayo Clinic.

However, there is one almost foolproof way to avoid COVID-19 during pregnancy, and that is to maintain strict quarantining! When quarantine isn’t possible, strict social distancing, mask wearing, avoiding groups or crowds, and hand washing protocols can all also dramatically help protect a pregnant mother against contracting the coronavirus.

Will COVID-19 affect my labor and delivery?

At AHA Women’s Health, Dr. Bobbi has delivered hundreds of babies, taking every step to ensure that each new mother experiences the miracle and joy of childbirth – no matter what the surrounding circumstances. She and the compassionate healthcare team at AHA Women’s Health in Dearborn, MI continue this commitment during the current pandemic.

Each pregnancy and delivery experience is unique – even during “normal” times. When you seek your pregnancy and delivery care from AHA Women’s Health Dr. Bobbi will discuss whether certain visits can be handled via tele-health, and which examinations (such as ultrasounds) need to be done in person.

Depending upon your month of delivery, for elective C Sections and induced labor, you and your support person will likely be screened for COVID-19 symptoms 24 to 48 hours before your arrival at the hospital.

Guidelines for hospital visitors are fluid and constantly changing, as well. So Dr. Bobbi can advise you on the specific testing and visitor policies that are in place closer to your date of delivery.

If I have COVID-19 when I deliver, will my baby get it?

The most recent research on COVID-19 and pregnancy suggests that only about 2% to 5% of infants born to women with the coronavirus at or near the time of delivery will test positive in the days after their birth.

So, keeping your newborn’s crib by your bed in the hospital is generally considered acceptable if you have COVID – with the recommendation that you wear a mask and maintain a reasonable distance from your baby when not breastfeeding or bonding.

The benefits of maternal bonding, skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding are currently thought to outweigh separating a newborn from his or her mother. So, only in cases where the mother is severely ill with COVID-19, is she likely to be temporarily separated from her newborn.

A study just published in November 2020 in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health offers further reassurance, suggesting that severe COVID-19 infection in newborns is very rare. That report states that “most babies only develop mild symptoms when infected with the virus and make a full recovery.”

Pregnancy Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

If you are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, early care and guidance from an experienced OBGYN ensures that you are your baby will have the best opportunity for a safe, healthy and happy pregnancy or delivery – during the COVID-19 pandemic or at any time.

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Barbara Hannah, MD, and take the worry, guesswork and uncertainty out of childbirth, knowing you are in the hands of an experienced OBGYN who has delivered hundreds of beautiful happy, healthy babies!

Pregnancy & Delivery OBGYN – Dearborn, MI: 313.388.4247