More research is needed on how COVID-19 affects pregnant people. But pregnant people have a higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant people. Some research also shows that pregnant people with COVID-19 may be at higher risk for pregnancy problems, like preterm birth.
Preterm
babies
Preterm birth is a birth that happens before 37 weeks of
pregnancy. Preterm babies may not be fully developed at birth. They may have
more health problems and may need to stay in the hospital longer than babies
born later. Some may have breathing problems because their lungs are not fully
developed.
Can
COVID-19 increase the risk of preterm birth?
Each year, about 1 in 10 babies (10 percent) in the United States
is preterm. This rate may be higher in pregnant people with COVID-19:
- In a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study of 445
births in 600 pregnant people with COVID-19, 12.6 percent were preterm births. In
this study, preterm births were three times more likely in pregnant people with
COVID-19 who had symptoms compared to pregnant people with COVID-19 who had no
symptoms. - In another CDC study of 3,912 babies born to pregnant people with
COVID-19, 12.9 percent were preterm births.
While additional research is needed, it is important for pregnant
people to know that the risk for severe outcomes due to COVID-19 is higher when
compared to non-pregnant people. Therefore, be sure to protect yourself from COVID-19 and other
infections that can increase the risk of having a preterm birth. These
infections include the flu (also called influenza). Pregnant people who get the
flu are more likely to have preterm labor and preterm birth. When you follow
COVID-19 safety and social distancing recommendations, you are also protecting
yourself from the flu.
But remember, getting the flu shot during pregnancy is the best way to protect you
and your baby from the flu!
Protect
yourself from COVID-19
Practice COVID-19 safety and social distancing recommendations:
- Wash
your hands often. Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you can’t
use soap and water, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. - Limit
contact with other people as much as possible. - If you
need to go out or interact with others:- Wear a
cloth face cover or a facemask over your nose and mouth. - Keep at
least 6 feet away from others. - Stay
away from people who are not wearing a mask. - Avoid
touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Wear a
- Every
day, clean and disinfect surfaces you frequently touch. - Avoid
activities that make safety measures and social distancing difficult. For
example, try ordering takeout food instead of going to a restaurant. Try
staying connected to friends and family in creative ways, like with video
calls, instead of going to a party. Some pregnant people even have had
baby showers using video conferencing instead of in person during the
pandemic.
If you have COVID-19 when giving birth, can your baby get
infected?
Babies can become infected with COVID-19 during
childbirth or by being exposed to someone with the virus after birth. But
infections due to COVID-19 are not common in newborns born to people with
COVID-19.
Research shows that only a small
number of babies (about 2 percent to 5 percent) born to people
with COVID-19 near the time of delivery test positive for the virus
in the days after birth. It may be hard to tell if newborns infected with
COVID-19 got the virus before birth, during birth or after birth from close
contact with an infected person.
Can preterm babies be at higher risk for serious illness if they get
COVID-19?
Yes. Some data shows that babies who may be more likely to have
serious illness from COVID-19 include:
- Babies age 1 and under
- Preterm babies
- Babies who have other medical conditions, like a lung condition or
heart disease
How can you protect your preterm baby from COVID-19 in the NICU?
Some preterm babies need to stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care
Unit (NICU) for special care. Learn how
to protect your baby from COVID-19 in the NICU.
Learn more about COVID-19
and pregnancy.