With the emergence of Coronavirus, everything around has drastically changed. So many things are happening around that increase our fear day by day. If you are pregnant or a new parent to a newborn, I am sure you have a lot of concerns about your health and your child’s health amidst the pandemic.
Pregnancy risks during covid
All humans, whether pregnant or not, are at equal risk for the infection of the virus. Although COVID-19 has a modest overall risk to pregnant women, it is not just you but also the baby, so you have to take the necessary precautions such as wearing a mask, maintaining social distance, and washing hands regularly.
If you are infected with the virus, you are at a higher risk of severe illness. Your therapy will focus on symptom relief, which may include plenty of fluids and rest, as well as medicine to reduce fever, relieve pain, or minimize coughing.
If the condition is worsening, you can also be hospitalized. COVID-19-positive pregnant women are also more likely to have a baby before the 37th week of pregnancy (premature birth) and may be at higher risk for complications such as pregnancy loss.
Suppose you are a pregnant woman with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes or older or workaround in places with a high number of corona cases. In that case, you are again at risk of severe illness due to the Coronavirus. If you start exhibiting Coronavirus symptoms, get yourself checked as soon as possible, and if the results turn out positive, do not panic.
It is not necessary that if you are infected, so is the baby in the womb. There are many cases in which a positive infected mother has delivered a negative infected baby.
It is suggested that you take a COVID-19 vaccine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding to avoid severe complications due to the virus. Covid vaccines are proven useful and they do not harm the mother or the baby.
Let’s look at some of the precautions you should take as a pregnant woman against Coronavirus.
- Any respiratory problems should not be overlooked. Do not hesitate to contact your doctor if you develop a cough or any other respiratory distress. Your doctor will determine whether you need to be tested for COVID-19 after taking a thorough medical history.
- If you work or often visit areas that contain people who are infected on a large scale, stop yourself from visiting these areas.
- Ensure people you live with are not infected and have taken the necessary vaccines available.
- Wash your hands regularly, and wear a mask when you go out.
- Maintain distance from people when visiting public places and try to stay at least 6 feet apart from people outside.
- Get your flu shot as soon as possible. The flu vaccine does not prevent you from COVID-19 infection, but it can reduce your susceptibility to influenza, which can cause difficulties during pregnancy.
Do not panic because of the pandemic; it’s a thing to worry about, especially when you are pregnant but remember, the chances of you getting infected is the same as a person who is not pregnant. There is no evidence that being pregnant during the pandemic can harm the baby.
Even if infected, consult the required doctor and follow the required protocols. Do not ignore or panic, be calm and deal with the situation.