Like most pregnant women, you spend some, perhaps most, of your time preparing for the new baby. From labor and birth planning to birth, you have so much to juggle and think about in the weeks and months leading up to our babies being born.
Over the last few weeks, you may have had to adjust or cancel many plans you made to protect yourself and your growing baby from the threat of COVID-19 infection.
We are still learning a lot about this infection. It is very important to remember. Additionally, there is still very limited information about the risks to the health of pregnant women and their babies. Over time, we will learn much more valuable information and will probably find new ways to protect our pregnant women and babies over time. What we know so far:
Pregnancy and COVID-19
Currently, the virus spreads from person to person through respiratory droplets (when a person coughs or sneezes), and these droplets We know that it enters your body through your mouth, nose or eyes. It is reported that these droplets can also spread when we touch a surface that can come into contact with it and then touch our own faces. There is also some evidence that it can be transmitted through airborne particles, and researchers are still trying to understand whether people can become infected through contact with these particles.
The virus has not been found in amniotic fluid (the fluid in the womb containing the baby) or breast milk.
Pregnant women Complications from COVID-19 Is it high risk for COVID-19?
From the limited information we have, we still don't know whether pregnant women are more likely to be infected with COVID-19 or have serious complications from the virus than the general population. Conflicting reports keep coming.
During pregnancy, our immune systems, hormone levels and circulatory systems change to nourish our baby. Some of these changes make us more likely to have complications from infections. Pregnant women are often exposed to other respiratory infections such as influenza. infections or other coronaviruses such as SARS and MERS, but so far we are not sure if this is the case for COVID-19.
There is some reason to be optimistic that symptoms for most pregnant women are in the mild to moderate category, which is similar to what we see in non-pregnant women. However, high fever during pregnancy can harm a growing baby in the first trimester. You should be careful about this and stay in contact with your doctor.
What can I do to prevent COVID-19 infection?
The most important thing we can do is to avoid becoming infected if possible. So maintaining social distance comes first. Unless absolutely necessary, don't go where there are other people around—these include grocery stores, convenience stores, doctors' offices, hospitals, public areas, and crowded parks. Traveling or having 'baby showers' is not recommended during this time, as these may increase your risk of exposure to the virus.
Also, make sure you practice vigorous hand hygiene - washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds - and cleaning your eyes. Avoid touching your mouth and nose. If you feel unwell, stay home and limit your exposure to other people. Sneeze into a tissue or tissue and immediately throw away the used one.
It is important to keep ourselves as healthy as possible. This means eating nutritious meals (unprocessed foods), staying active (yoga, pilates, or walking), giving yourself enough time for a full night's sleep, managing stress (reaching out to loved ones). If you are especially having difficulty managing stress, you can seek help from a psychologist or psychiatrist. It is also very important to drink plenty of water and avoid smokers.
Remember! Protecting ourselves is key to protecting our babies.
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