Coronavirus in pregnancy: symptoms, possible risks and how to protect yourself

Coronavirus infection during pregnancy can occur at any week of pregnancy and normally causes the development of mild symptoms such as fever, general malaise and cough, being very similar to the flu.

However, older pregnant women, those who suffer from obesity, who have other illnesses such as diabetes or high blood pressure, or who become infected after 28 weeks of pregnancy appear to be at greater risk of developing serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing and confusion, which It may also increase the risk of pregnancy complications.

Therefore, it is recommended that women adopt protective measures against coronavirus, such as washing their hands regularly, wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing. Check out the main ways to protect yourself from coronavirus.

Main symptoms

Most pregnant women with COVID-19 do not develop signs and symptoms of infection. However, if there are symptoms, it is common for them to be similar to those of the flu:

• Fever;
• Constant cough;
• Muscle pain;
• Loss of smell and taste;
• Diarrhea;
• General malaise.

The most serious symptoms of COVID-19, such as difficulty breathing, chest pain and mental confusion, for example, are rarer to occur, however they are more likely to appear in women who are already in the third trimester of pregnancy, in addition to there is a greater chance of complications.

Therefore, in the presence of signs and symptoms of COVID-19, especially if the woman is more than 28 weeks pregnant, it is important that she goes to the hospital so that the necessary measures can be taken to prevent the progression of the disease. Know how to identify the symptoms of COVID-19.

Possible risks to pregnancy

Most cases of COVID-19 during pregnancy do not lead to the development of complications, and are usually mild cases of the disease. However, women who were infected with the new coronavirus in the third trimester of pregnancy may experience more severe symptoms, in addition to having a greater risk of premature birth and a greater tendency to form clots.

According to a study carried out in the United States, it is possible that the new coronavirus causes the formation of clots in the placenta, which appear to reduce the amount of blood that is transported to the baby. Still, the baby’s development does not appear to be affected, with the majority of babies born to mothers with COVID-19 having normal weight and development for their gestational age.

Does the virus pass to the baby?

The first studies carried out on the transmission of coronavirus from mother to fetus showed that the virus was not present in the amniotic fluid, in the baby’s throat, or in breast milk. Furthermore, none of the babies born to mothers with COVID-19 were infected with the new coronavirus, which proved the theory that the virus was not easily transmitted from mother to baby.

However, due to a growing increase in suspected cases of COVID-19 in babies shortly after birth, new studies were needed to confirm whether it was really possible to transmit the coronavirus during pregnancy.

These studies showed that the coronavirus can, in fact, be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy, as 3 women infected with COVID-19 had babies who tested positive shortly after birth, in addition, the coronavirus was identified in the placenta of one of these women, which indicates that the new coronavirus can be transmitted in the womb.

Although these studies show that the coronavirus can be transmitted from mother to fetus, these are still very rare cases and, therefore, more studies are needed to identify how this transmission happens and what risk factors increase the possibility of transmitting the virus. for the baby. Therefore, ideally, during pregnancy, women should take all precautions to avoid COVID-19 infection, such as washing their hands frequently and wearing a mask, for example.

Can women with COVID-19 breastfeed?

According to the WHO and some studies carried out with pregnant women, the risk of passing on the new coronavirus infection to the baby appears to be very low and, therefore, it is advised that women breastfeed if they feel in good health and wish to do so.

It is only recommended that women take some precautions when breastfeeding to protect the baby from other routes of transmission, such as washing their hands before breastfeeding and wearing a mask while breastfeeding.

How to avoid catching COVID-19 during pregnancy

Although the symptoms during pregnancy are not serious and there is a low risk of transmitting the virus from mother to baby during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding, it is important that women reinforce preventive measures against infection, especially if they are in the third trimester of pregnancy. . Therefore, it is recommended:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for about 20 seconds;
• Avoid touching your eyesmouth and nose;
• Avoid being in an environment with a lot of people and with little air circulation;
• Drink plenty of water and stay activeas this makes it possible to reduce the risk of clot formation;
• Wear masks appropriate;
• Have a balanced diet and vitamin D and folic acid supplementation, if recommended.

Furthermore, it is important that routine consultations with the obstetrician are maintained, as this way it is possible to monitor the baby’s development and ensure that it is happening in a healthy way.