Coronavirus and Pregnancy: What You Should Know
Pregnancy can be a time of joyous anticipation and excitement for women and their families. But the coronavirus pandemic raises concerns. Are you and your baby at risk?
By following doctors’ advice and taking some extra precautions, you can enjoy a healthy, happy pregnancy while protecting yourself and your unborn child from the effects of COVID-19.
Avoiding the Coronavirus during Pregnancy
Avoiding infection with the coronavirus is a top priority for pregnant women. “If you’re pregnant, you should take precautions to protect yourself from getting COVID-19. Do everything you can, including physical distancing, wearing a mask, hand-washing and staying in close communication with your provider.”
Should pregnant women get a coronavirus test? If you are having COVID-19 symptoms or think you have been exposed to an infected person, call your doctor and follow his or her advice. Adhere to precautions carefully: Stay at least 6 feet from others, wear a mask, and avoid large gatherings and indoor socializing outside of your household.
Are you pregnant and COVID-19 positive?
If you are positive for COVID-19 and pregnant but have very mild or no symptoms, you will need to quarantine at home. Make sure you follow quarantine advice and drink plenty of fluids, rest and monitor yourself for symptoms.
The Coronavirus website has good information on how to manage COVID at home. If you develop severe COVID-19 symptoms that require urgent medical attention, but you do not have any pregnancy or gynaecological issues, contact your GP or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
If you are COVID-19 positive and have any pregnancy or gynaecological issues, contact your GP or go to the hospital where you are receiving maternity care.
No matter what your COVID status, if you think your baby's movements have decreased or you have other concerns about your pregnancy, don’t wait - contact your maternity care team or go to your maternity hospital immediately.
Are you pregnant and a COVID-19 contact?
If you live with someone who is COVID positive or you have spent more than four hours inside a house with a COVID positive person, you are considered a COVID contact. You will need to quarantine at home for 7 days (eg. from a Monday to the following Monday).
• If living in the same house - your quarantine period starts from the date the COVID positive person received their positive test result and lasts for 7 days.
• If not living in the same house – your quarantine period starts from the day you last spent time with the COVID positive person and lasts for 7 days.
• For more information, please see the Checklist for COVID Contacts on the Coronavirus website.
Try to separate yourself from the COVID positive person, make sure you follow quarantine advice, drink plenty of fluids, rest and monitor yourself for symptoms.