What to Do if Pregnant and Have Covid
Most people who examination positive to COVID-19 will experience balmy symptoms and recover without going to hospital. However, if y'all're pregnant, you and your baby are at a higher risk of some complications.
What should I practice if I test positive to COVID-19?
If you lot are significant and have tested positive to COVID-19, you should contact your maternity care providers, like your doctor or midwife, immediately. They will be able to assess your status and advise you on the all-time style to access your regular maternity care while you are isolating with COVID-19.
How is COVID-xix treated if I'm pregnant?
If you accept been advised that you can safely recover from COVID-19 at dwelling, there are several things you tin do to relieve the symptoms:
- balance equally much as possible
- drink plenty of fluids
- take paracetamol to ease your symptoms (ibuprofen is not prophylactic to take during pregnancy)
Y'all should also monitor your baby's movements and expect out for any signs your symptoms are getting worse.
Pregnant women are at an increased run a risk of needing to be admitted to hospital if they have COVID-19.
What are the signs my symptoms are getting worse?
Well-nigh people with COVID-19 volition experience balmy symptoms, similar to that of the flu. But if your symptoms become worse, contact your medico immediately.
These symptoms are considered moderate:
- shortness of breath while active, such as noticeably having to breathe more heavily while walking around the house
- persistent fever (a temperature greater than 38°C) that doesn't respond to treatment
- coughing upward mucous regularly
- significant fatigue or lethargy stopping you from doing normal tasks
These symptoms are considered severe:
- breathlessness at residuum and or being unable to speak in sentences
- unconsciousness, fainting or drowsiness
- skin turning blue or stake
- common cold and clammy, or stake and mottled, pare
- pain or pressure in the chest lasting more than 10 minutes
- confusion
- passing no urine ('wee') or a lot less urine than usual
- coughing up blood
You should also contact your maternity intendance providers immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms during your pregnancy:
- a alter in your infant'south movement
- haemorrhage from the vagina
- abiding articulate discharge from the vagina
- abdominal pain
- contractions earlier 37 weeks
- fever
- headaches
- sudden swelling of your easily or face
Tell your motherhood care providers that you have COVID-19 and then they can best advise y'all what to do.
Check YOUR SYMPTOMS — Utilize the COVID-xix Symptom Checker to find out if you need to seek medical help.
Are there whatsoever conditions that might brand COVID-nineteen worse if I'm pregnant?
The post-obit conditions or factors are more likely to cause severe illness from COVID-19 during pregnancy:
- being over 35 years erstwhile
- being overweight or obese
- loftier blood pressure (before you were pregnant)
- diabetes – type 1 or ii (before you were pregnant)
While having these conditions may increase your risk of severe affliction from COVID-19, it doesn't hateful you will. Speak to your physician or midwife virtually how to monitor for symptoms and what to exercise if you notice any changes.
Tin can COVID-xix affect my infant?
COVID-19 may increase the risk of premature or stillbirth. Your maternity care providers will monitor your babe'south growth while y'all have COVID-xix and during your recovery.
Some women who are very unwell and require hospitalisation may exist advised to have their babe early.
There is no show linking COVID-19 to an increased take chances of miscarriage.
Can I go to regular antenatal appointments if I have COVID-19?
Speak to your motherhood care providers on how to best attend your regular antenatal appointments. Yous should be able to take your appointment in person, providing yous follow face mask and hand hygiene guidelines. You lot may be able to have it over the phone or past video phone call ('telehealth').
It'south important that you keep up with your antenatal appointments, even if you have COVID-19. Your dr. or midwife will be able to make a plan with you on how best to have your usual tests, scans and vaccinations.
What happens if I get into labour while I have COVID-19?
You'll all the same be able to have your baby equally planned in a infirmary or birthing centre, however you may not be able to have a water nascency, as personal protective equipment, such as masks and gowns, are less effective if they get wet. You'll even so have access to pain relief and be able to give birth in whichever position works for y'all.
If you're planning a home birth, your healthcare providers may recommend that you take your baby in a infirmary instead.
During labour, both yous and your baby will exist monitored. It's not necessary to have a caesarean if yous have COVID-19, unless there are other complications with your labour.
Can I have my partner or nativity support person with me when I give nascency?
Many hospitals in Australia have restrictions on how many people are allowed to exist with you. Information technology's likely you'll be able to accept ane person, such equally your partner or a nominated birth support partner, with yous when you have your baby.
Bank check with the infirmary or birthing heart beforehand, since your support person may need to exist fully vaccinated and wear personal protective equipment (PPE), such as a mask, gloves and a gown.
Will I be able to hold my baby?
Aye, you will be able to hold your babe. Skin-to-skin contact is an important role of bonding with your infant afterwards giving birth. The midwives will advise you on how to breastfeed and cuddle your babe in the safest way possible.
Volition my baby be able to stay with me?
If you are well, your infant should be able to stay with you. If you are well, your infant should be able to stay with y'all, providing you follow mask and hygiene guidelines to protect your infant.
If yous are unwell, you might be moved to a part of the hospital that is treating other COVID-19 infected patients. Your babe would exist looked subsequently in the plant nursery, or at home with your partner or a suitable caregiver.
Read more than
Having your infant during COVID-19
If your due date is approaching, find out what hospitals are doing to minimise the risk of COVID-19.
COVID-19 vaccination and pregnancy
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding you might exist wondering whether information technology is rubber for you to get the COVID-nineteen vaccination.
How do I protect my baby if I take COVID-nineteen?
If you have COVID-19, you tin however intendance for your baby, but you'll need to follow some guidelines to protect your newborn.
Wash your hands often with soap and water or hand sanitiser – particularly before touching your babe or any equipment that will come into contact with your baby, such as bottles or a breast pump.
Wearable a surgical mask whenever yous're about your infant. Don't re-use masks and dispose of them immediately afterward utilize. Don't touch the front of the mask when you are wearing it and wash your hands before putting the mask on and when yous remove it.
Sneeze or cough into your elbow and wash your hands immediately. If you happen to coughing or sneeze on your breast, wash the area with soap and water before breastfeeding or expressing milk.
Clean and disinfect surfaces and feeding equipment regularly.
If y'all have COVID-19, yous shouldn't have whatever visitors to your abode. One time you lot have finished isolating, limit the number of visitors to your dwelling and ask that they wear a mask and exist fully vaccinated.
If you lot are fully vaccinated, you will have passed on some antibodies before nascency and while breastfeeding that provide some protection for your baby.
Where can I get more information and communication?
The best person to speak to will be your maternity intendance provider, such as your doctor or midwife. They will be able to requite you all of the information and communication you need to suit your situation.
Speak to a maternal kid health nurse
Call Pregnancy, Birth and Babe to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), seven days a week.
Source: https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/testing-positive-to-covid-19-while-pregnant