COVID-19 and Pregnancy – What You Need to Know

The good news of being pregnant is a joyful movement filled with excitement for an expectant mother & for the entire family. Pregnancy is a beautiful, miraculous gift, but the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic can raise concerns regarding the safety of your precious one & yourself.

Some studies show that pregnant women tend to experience changes in the immune system that can make them vulnerable to certain respiratory viruses. Even fevers during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, are said to raise the risk of birth defects. However, there is still limited information on whether COVID-19 can pass on to the newborn as of now.

Well, worry not, following your doctor’s advice strictly and taking some extra precautionary measures you can still enjoy a healthy pregnancy & protect yourself and your baby from the ill effects of COVID-19, so keep reading to know what you can do in such a difficult time.

Follow these 12 safety precautions curated for you to stay safe:

Isolate yourself

Stay away from family gatherings, even if your presence is important and likewise stay away for at least two to three days from the near ones who have attended the gatherings. This is quite possible when people are in close proximity to one another for long periods of time can increase the risk of virus transmission. Mostly this can happen in indoor locations & especially when there is poor ventilation with more crowd in the family gathering.

 Avoid having Group Meals

Avoid having food in a group with all family members on the same table, have food separately in your room and also use separate food plates & spoons or prefer having food in advance before other family members in such situations. This is because while having food, you are required to remove your mask, which increases the risk of virus transmission especially when you are in close proximity to one another for a long time.

Watch TV separately

Watching TV all in one group needs to be avoided, even if you happen to miss your favorite daily TV shows, try watching when no one’s around or watch it in your room itself if possible. This is because according to recent studies, the COVID-19 virus is said to spread in poorly ventilated or crowded indoor rooms, especially the ones where people tend to spend longer periods of time.

Avoid common Medications for COVID-19 Symptoms

During pregnancy, you need to be extra careful while taking medications for COVID-19-related symptoms or any other type of vitamin supplements, as some can do more harm than good. Studies show that practicing common medication for COVID-19 during pregnancy can affect the organ development process of your newborn, so it’s always a better idea to check with your doctor before taking one.

Do not Stress yourself

Avoid feeling stressed out during pregnancy, about COVID-19-related symptoms & worries, you can consult your doctor in such situations, as it is curable if diagnosed at an earlier stage. Even if you are diagnosed at an earlier stage, do not worry, as with correct precautionary guidelines & the required medical treatment you can safeguard yourself & baby’s health from the ill effects of COVID-19. Recent studies show that being under stress can impact the newborn baby’s behavioral pattern which can result in a newborn baby with aggressive behavior & a short temper in nature, so for the sake of your baby, stop feeling stressed.

Use separate washrooms

Avoid the use of common washrooms if possible or be the first one to use, as certain categories of COVID-19 viruses can survive on uncleaned surfaces like taps, and washbasins & more for as long as 72 hours. This is because you could get infected by touching surfaces that have been contaminated by the virus when touching your eyes, nose, or mouth while in the washroom.

Stay away from open Areas

Stay away from balconies & open places if someone in your surrounding area has been infected by COVID-19, otherwise prefer using masks while visiting such places in your house. This is mostly because the virus-related aerosols can remain afloat in the open air or even travel farther for more than a 1-meter distance in particular.

 Prefer Pregnancy-related Food

Prefer pregnancy-supporting diet like Spinach, Spring Onions, Broccoli, Green peas, and Sweet Potato; fruits like Avocado, Pomegranate, Kiwi, Banana, Guava, Custard Apple, and nuts like Almonds, Walnuts, and Pistachio to name a few along with fresh homemade food. Eating healthy and adequate water drinking during pregnancy gives your baby all the essential vital nutrients they need to properly develop.

 Watch your Sugar intake

Watch your intake of sugar, mostly when everyone is consuming dry fruits these days to boost immunity to stay safe from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the ones with sweetened coatings & artificial preservatives. Studies show that on average sugar-based products contain low nutritional value. And a low-sugar intake helps in keeping your blood sugar levels more stable, along with balanced pregnancy weight gain.

 Plan your Doctor visits

Plan your Doctor’s visit in advance, and list out your doubts related to COVID-19 precautions, and abnormal symptoms that you happen to face, so that the doctor can immediately start the best possible treatment as soon as possible for the safety of your newborn & yourself. Mostly try to avoid in-person visits to health care facilities, if mandatory, take strict precautionary measures as you are more likely to get exposed to a virus-infected person while visiting such places.

Get enough Sleep

As the old saying goes, always get enough sleep each day during pregnancy, as studies show it benefits in increasing the body’s immunity, which is much required in keeping you & your baby safe from the ill effects of COVID-19 infection. A comfortable good sleep is quite important during pregnancy as your body works hard enough to protect and nurture the developing baby. Just in case you are not able to sleep properly, you can use a comfortable to sleep pregnancy pillow instead, for better sleep.

Practice strict SMS precautions

Finally remember to always distance yourself from others, as COVID-19 is a truly air-borne virus which is why wearing a mask most of the time is advised. This is because recent studies show that the virus can easily spread from an infected person’s mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they usually cough, sneeze, speak, or even breathe.

conclusion:

However, at any stage possibility of risk can’t be entirely ruled out. God forbids, if you happen to experience symptoms such as loss of taste or smell or uneven fever, it’s equally important to start immediate treatment, especially during the initial stage, as negligence can worsen the situation. All we can say, as a pregnant woman with strict precautionary measures in place & early treatment you can easily protect yourself & baby’s health from the ill effects of COVID-19. Wishing you, all the very best for a safe delivery & remember to keep your baby products ready!