4 Things to Do

1.Be physically active, take walks and frequent breaks from sitting in front of the television or computer screens.
2. Back aches and Urinary Tract Infection in pregnancy could be attributed to being less active and inadequate drinking of water. It is therefore recommended that 2 litres of water should be kept close at all times to avoid this problem.
3.Stay home, reduce the number of visitors coming home and do not travel unnecessarily.
4.Avoid going out. Use your own vehicles when possible rather than depending on public transport.

1. Does COVID-19 impact pregnant women differently?

We have been watching this closely. People with some health conditions, such as diabetes, lung disease, or heart disease, have a higher risk of becoming sicker from COVID-19.

But at this time, there isn’t any evidence to suggest that pregnant women without underlying health conditions are more likely to have serious complications, be hospitalized or need ICU care if they are infected with the virus. However, we still don’t have enough data to be 100% certain of this.

This is unlike other infectious diseases like influenza, which can cause severe illness in pregnant women because of changes in the immune system during pregnancy.

2. Should pregnant women take extra precautions?

There is nothing about pregnancy itself that makes a woman more susceptible to being infected, so they should follow the same guidance as everyone else. This includes proper handwashing (at least 20 seconds using warm water and soap), not touching your face, nose, eyes or mouth and following aggressive social distancing (not going out unless you absolutely have to and staying six feet apart from others.)

Transmission spreads from person to person primarily through close contact with respiratory droplets (such as through coughs and sneezes) that can travel up to six feet.

The Centers for Disease Control has also recommended that community members wear cloth masks if they have to go somewhere like the grocery store. You do not need to wear a surgical mask or medical-grade mask.

3. Are there risks of transmitting the virus from mom to infant?

So far we have not seen any indications that COVID-19 can be transmitted to an unborn baby. After birth, we know that transmission is possible if there’s exposure to a COVID-19-positive caregiver, including the mother.

Early observations also suggest that newborns are less likely to show symptoms of the infection or get serious forms of it. We don’t have enough information to know if that’s because babies are less likely to get infected after birth or just aren’t getting sick as frequently from the virus as adults.

Nonetheless, we need more research to guide us and until then we must take all measures to protect newborns from exposure, including from family members who may be infected.

4. Can a baby be infected from breastmilk?

So far the virus has not been found in breastmilk and there’s no evidence to suggest it’s transmittable this way. However, the close contact with a COVID-19-positive caregiver while feeding a baby would increase risk of spreading the virus.

This is why we recommend that delivering moms who test positive for the virus and choose to breastfeed consider pumping milk during a temporary period after birth to protect newborns from the risk of contracting the virus.

5. Are symptoms different in pregnant women? 

A small study of 215 pregnant women at two New York hospitals recently found a surprising number of asymptomatic women who tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Of the 33 women who tested positive, 29 (88%) did not have symptoms.

Nonetheless, we need more research to guide us and until then we must take all measures to protect newborns from exposure, including from family members who may be infected.