Our responses are based on the latest studies published to The New England Journal of Medicine, titled “Universal Screening for SARS-CoV-2 in Women Admitted for Delivery“. Coronavirus Risk to Pregnant Women and Newborns Studied and reported on April 24th, 2020. They may evolve based on new discoveries made in the Covid-19 Coronavirus.
To date, there is little data available to assess the susceptibility of pregnant women to the COVID-19 Coronavirus. But we do know that pregnant women undergo immunological and physiological changes that can make them more sensitive and at greater risk of complications from viral respiratory infections.
This has been the case with previous episodes of Coronavirus infections (Sars-CoV that caused the 2003 SARS epidemic or MERS-Cov) or other viral respiratory infections such as influenza or whooping cough, two diseases against which women pregnant women should be vaccinated.
As such, and in the absence of an available vaccine against the new Coronavirus, pregnant women are invited to follow the prevention recommendations to avoid infection with the greatest care: wash their hands regularly with soap and water. for at least 20 seconds (or failing with hydroalcoholic gel), avoid sick people, do not touch your face, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or elbow when you sneeze, clean your room and current objects, avoid contact nearby and crowded places.
Can the virus be transmitted to the fetus during pregnancy?
Today, transmission of the Coronavirus COVID-19 is primarily through close contact with an infected person through respiratory droplets. Little is known about the possible transmission of infection from mother to fetus or newborn by “vertical transmission” (before, during, or after delivery).
According to the limited series of recent cases of babies born to mothers with COVID-19 published in the medical literature, none of the babies were infected; no virus was detected in the amniotic fluid or breast milk.
For other Coronavirus infections (MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV), the data is limited but no vertical transmission has been reported. However, there are some reported cases of newborns testing positive for COVID-19, but none underwent a complete medical evaluation, making it unclear how the infection occurred and whether it can be passed from mother to child.
What are the risks to newborns?
To date, the short and long-term risks to the baby are not known for certain. One study found that some children had specific symptoms (respiratory distress, cyanosis, gastric bleeding, and death), but none had tested positive for the infection. Keeping the baby with the sick mother seems inadvisable.
Furthermore, data from other respiratory viral infections during pregnancy (Coronavirus but also influenza virus) have reported effects including low birth weight and premature delivery. Also, having a cold or flu with a high fever early in pregnancy can increase the risk of certain birth defects.
The long-term effects are currently unknown.
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