Life has largely returned to normal in the 3 years since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing is no longer a thing, and most people don’t wear masks, even in crowded indoor environments. While the pandemic is proving to be in the rearview mirror, experts say there is at least one population that wants to be aware of their COVID risk: pregnant women.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists warns of COVID threats to pregnant women, noting that “pregnant and postpartum women have a higher risk of more severe illness from COVID-19 than non-pregnant women. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also states that “if you are pregnant or have recently been pregnant, you are more likely to be in very delicate health due to COVID-19 than others who are not pregnant. “
But the most of the world has emerged from the pandemic, which raises a big question: How involved should pregnant women be?Experts say they should at least be aware that there is a risk.
“Pregnant women deserve to have COVID-19 on their radar,” female fitness specialist Dr. Anna Stuart told Yahoo Life. Jennifer Wider. de serious illness that can endanger both mother and baby. “
Dr. Thomas Russo, an infectious disease specialist at the University at Buffalo in New York, agrees: “We have less COVID now, but it’s still a more lethal disease than the flu, especially in high-risk groups. Knowledge obviously shows that pregnant women are at risk of suffering more serious diseases and serious consequences for their babies.
It’s completely imaginable to contract COVID-19 while you’re pregnant and be well, Dr. William Schaffner, a professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, told Yahoo Life. “But it can also lead to serious complications, including preterm birth. “he says.
But why is COVID so harmful to moms-to-be?Here’s what you want to know.
At the beginning of the pandemic, there wasn’t much information to suggest that pregnant women were doing worse than other people with COVID-19. Much has changed since then.
A BMJGlobal Health study of more than 13,000 pregnant women in 12 countries found that about 3% of pregnant women with COVID needed extensive care and about 4% needed some extensive care. Compared to pregnant women who were not inflamed with the virus, those with COVID were about 4 times more likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit. They were also 15 times more likely to be ventilated and seven times more likely to die.
A study of another 240,147 people published in Lancet Regional Health – Americas linked pregnancy from COVID infection to preterm birth. The researchers found that the risk of very preterm birth, which occurs before 32 weeks of pregnancy, was 60 percent higher for other people who had the virus at some point during their pregnancy. The threat of having a baby before 37 weeks was 40% higher for those who had been infected.
COVID also increases the threat of stillbirth, according to a 2021 CDC study of more than 1. 2 million hospital deliveries. While the overall threat of stillbirth is low, the researchers found that 1. 25% of births in which the mother had COVID-19 were stillborn, compared to 0. 64% of women who did not have the virus.
The impact on babies would possibly last beyond the possible headaches of a preterm birth: studies published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology
“It’s vital for pregnant women to be COVID, partly to protect themselves, but also to protect their baby,” Schaffner says.
That means doing what you can in the face of your COVID threat, adding getting vaccinated against COVID-19 if you haven’t already, he says. (It’s worth noting that the CDC and ACOG propose that pregnant women get vaccinated against the virus. )
“We have the equipment to minimize the consequences of COVID,” Russo says. “They’re underutilized. “
Schaffner also recommends wearing a mask in crowded indoor situations. “Put on this mask if you go inside to do organizational activities, services, go to the Array supermarket. For sure if you travel,” he says.
If you are pregnant with COVID, Russo recommends seeing your doctor.
There are rarely many studies related to the use of the antiviral drug Paxlovid during pregnancy, but one study suggests that it is safe for both mother and fetus. “Paxlovid can be taken, but it’s actually a verbal exchange with your obstetrician,” Schaffner says.
While there is rarely “as large a body of knowledge as we would like,” Russo says, “what we have supports the use of Paxlovid as safe during pregnancy. “She adds: “If you are in more danger than being pregnant alone – you are not vaccinated and have significant ailments – take Paxlovid to further minimise the risk of poor outcomes. “
Russo acknowledges that many pregnant women don’t need to put anything new in their body by adding a vaccine, so she recommends talking to your obstetrician if you have any concerns. You can make the most productive decisions for yourself,” he says.
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