Coronavirus and pregnancy: experts share how to minimise the infection risk for you and your baby

Pregnant women are feeling anxious about the coronavirus and how it could affect their baby, before and after the birth

Medical experts offer advice on minimising risk, breastfeeding, delivery, and hygiene procedures

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Being pregnant during the coronavirus pandemic increases anxiety for expectant mothers, but the risks can be minimised, say experts. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 8:00pm, 5 Apr 2020Updated: 8:33pm, 5 Apr 2020

Pregnancy is usually a joyful time in a woman’s life, but with everyone in a heightened state of anxiety over the Covid-19 pandemic, what ought to be a period of excitement and anticipation for many mums-to-be might feel anything but. Along with worrying about your own health and the health of your loved ones, you will also be concerned about your unborn baby and unsure if you are doing enough to keep him or her safe.

While pregnant women are equally at risk as anyone else of contracting the new coronavirus, they may be more susceptible to complications arising from the infection, due to the many changes going on in their body. According to Dr Ann Tan, an obstetrician-gynaecologist at Women Fertility & Fetal Centre in Singapore, pregnant women sometimes have altered immunity – as a result of hyperemesis (severe vomiting), anaemia or gestational diabetes, for instance – so they should take extra care to minimise their risk of infection.

“If you are expecting, you should take the same precautions as everyone else to protect yourself and avoid exposure,” Tan explains. “This includes washing your hands with soap and water regularly throughout the day, and especially if you’ve been out; avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands; avoiding close contact with people who are sick; and following social distancing rules.”

Unless you are in self-isolation, Dr Helen Tang Hiu Tung, an obstetrician-gynaecologist at Matilda International Hospital in Hong Kong, says that you should continue to attend your antenatal appointments. If you develop Covid-19 symptoms or feel unwell, then you might want to avoid your appointments and update your doctor about your condition. To keep your immune system strong during and after pregnancy, Tang also recommends eating healthily, getting enough sleep and keeping stress to a minimum.

Dr Helen Tang Hiu Tung is an obstetrician-gynaecologist at Matilda International Hospital in Hong Kong.

There is currently no evidence suggesting an increased risk of miscarriage or early pregnancy loss during Covid-19. There is also no increased risk of birth defects. However, it is important to know that it is possible to transmit the infection to your unborn baby through the placenta, according to a small study published on March 26 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Even though this emerging evidence suggests that vertical transmission is possible, it should be pointed out that what causes the fetus to be infected and adversely affected are still not definitively clear.