Here is What to Do when you get Covid while being pregnant?
You've
taken all possible precautions to avoid contracting COVID-19 while you're
pregnant, including getting vaccinated, getting your immunity up, and wearing a
mask even when those around you have taken theirs off. Nevertheless, you tested
positive for the virus that is spreading in this stage of the pandemic in its
most contagious form. How do you behave?
Take
care of yourself and keep relaxed, first of all. While it's true COVID-19 does
cause more severe disease in people who are pregnant compared to people of the
same age who aren't — and the risk of pregnancy and birth complications is
higher in women who are sick — the risk of severe illness is still low overall,
especially for those who are fully vaccinated, according to the US Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
There
are a few theories as to why pregnancy may increase a person's risk of
suffering from severe COVID-19. Pregnancy-related physiological changes may
raise a person's risk of developing a severe respiratory illness like COVID-19.
According to Dr. Ella Speichinger, an OB-GYN at the University of Missouri
Health Care, it could also be because a person's immune system is inherently
suppressed during pregnancy to protect their body from rejecting the developing
foetus.
However,
the pandemic is evolving every day, much like your expanding belly. Here is the
most recent advice from experts regarding contracting COVID-19 while pregnant.
I
tested positive while pregnant. Now what?
The
CDC states that people who are pregnant and have COVID-19 symptoms should
notify their health care practitioner within 24 hours. For most parents-to-be
who have COVID-19, advice on what to do when sick will be identical to the
advice for other individuals: Stay home, isolate yourself from other people in
your house and take care of yourself by resting and getting hydrated.
To
be cautious, call your doctor if you experience symptoms or have a positive
test result to see whether they advise an appointment or a course of therapy. A
person's chance of developing severe COVID-19, which can result in
hospitalisation and death, is increased by a wide range of medical situations,
among them pregnancy and postpartum. Your doctor could suggest additional
medication if you have a medical condition in addition to being pregnant, such
as diabetes (including gestational diabetes), asthma, high blood pressure, or a
high body mass index.
Some
research shows that high fever, during the first trimester especially, could
create issues in embryonic development. If you run a fever from COVID-19, your
doctor may prescribe you take acetaminophen or a fever-reducing drug.
Although
not all medications have been specifically tested for use in expectant women,
your doctor may advise one of the advantages of treating COVID-19 for you and
your unborn child outweigh the risks.
Dr.
Jeanne Sheffield, a specialist in maternal-fetal medicine at Johns Hopkins
University, stated in a 2021 post, "We can cure COVID-19 in
pregnancy." "Several of the drugs already in use are also being used
for our pregnant ladies, and early studies have suggested they can provide some
benefit."
Paxlovid,
monoclonal antibody therapy, and remdesivir are COVID-19 therapies that are
readily available and thought to be effective against the omicron form. Because
of the risk for foetal injury found in some animal reproduction studies,
pregnant women and anyone attempting to conceive is not advised to take the
prescription antiviral drug Molnupiravir, which functions differently from
Paxlovid.
According
to the CDC, COVID-19 is unlikely to be transferred in breast milk. However,
since intimate contact can spread the illness, your doctor could advise
pumping.
Can
COVID pass through breast milk after childbirth and while nursing?
The
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises speaking with your
OB-GYN or provider if you test positive for COVID-19 before delivery even
though you probably won't need to alter your birth plan. According to the organisation,
having COVID-19 is "not a justification by itself" to require a
caesarean section.
The
risk of a newborn contracting COVID-19 if you give birth while you have
COVID-19 does not change depending on whether the infant stays in your room or
in a different room, according to recent reports, the ACOG says. However, if
you are extremely ill or if your infant is in danger of becoming extremely ill,
it may be advised to isolate them in a different room. (While all newborns are
more vulnerable, some may be premature or have additional medical issues.)
Does
COVID-19 contaminate breast milk? The CDC and ACOG claim that it is unlikely.
To prevent spreading the virus to your infant, the ACOG advises having someone
else care for your newborn and feeding him or her formula if at all possible.
Can
I pass COVID to my baby during pregnancy?
According
to the ACOG, there have been a few instances of babies getting COVID-19 from
their sick parent during pregnancy, although these reports are uncommon.
Because
women with COVID-19 are more likely than women without COVID-19 to give birth
prematurely or experience a stillbirth, the effects of COVID-19 on the pregnant
person and their unborn child primarily focus on delivery.
The
dangers of COVID-19 for both the parent and child may be lowered if the parent
was vaccinated before or throughout their pregnancy, however, as evidenced in a
rising number of research on pregnancy, COVID-19 and the vaccines.
The
material presented in this article is for educational and informational
purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always visit a
physician or other trained health expert regarding any inquiries you may have
about a medical condition or health objectives.