Information on COVID-19
for Pregnant Women
Know, Prepare, Protect
Know, Prepare, ProtectInformation on COVID-19 for pregnant women
What is the novel coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. The novel coronavirus is a new strain, not previously identified in humans. COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the latest discovered coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).
How does the virus spread?
People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus through inhaling small droplets from people with COVID-19 who cough or sneeze or through touching contaminated surfaces.
What are the symptoms?
Many people who become infected experience mild illness and recover, but it can be more severe for others. The symptoms include a combination of:
- Fever
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Muscle pain
- Tiredness
If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 when pregnant, you will be watched more closely than other pregnant women and are likely to receive additional scans. Most healthy pregnant women who test positive will stay at home to recover; and need to keep an eye on their symptoms and contact their maternity hospital if the symptoms get worse. Paracetamol is a safe medication in pregnancy for mild symptoms such as fever or mild discomfort/pain.
The best way to prevent serious problems is to provide urgent care if the illness worsens. Some pregnant women will need to be admitted to hospital because of COVID-19 infection. Mothers who get very sick and need to be in the hospital may be at a higher risk of going into early labour and will be watched closely for this. The health of the baby will also be monitored.
Useful links
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus-and-pregnancy.html
https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/casedefinitions/
What to do if you are pregnant? How can you prepare yourself?
- Educate yourself on COVID-19 from trusted sources.
- Discuss your concerns about COVID-19 with your antenatal care provider.
- Continue to attend antenatal appointments where scheduled.
- Keep physically active to ensure good physical condition.
- Have over-the-counter medicines and medical supplies (e.g. tissues, thermometer) to treat fever.
- If taking any prescription medicines, refill them and/or get them delivered to you.
- Activate your social network.
- Contact family, friends, neighbours or community healthcare workers in advance and make joint plans on what to do when COVID-19 is spreading in your community or if you become ill.
- Follow instructions from national authorities on how to prepare for emergencies.
- Continue to practice general hygiene
Useful links
https://www.rcpi.ie/covid19/clinical-guidance-for-doctors/
https://www.rcm.org.uk/advice-for-pregnant-women/
https://ranzcog.edu.au/statements-guidelines/covid-19-statement/information-for-pregnant-women
https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/covid-19-guidance-neonatal-settings
Frequently Asked Questions
Our staff answer a few frequently asked questions by patients. For a list of useful resources for expectant mothers please see the question below ‘ What antenatal support will I receive?’
What do I do if I have a COVID-19 related query or concern?
If you have any COVID-19 related query or concern, – then please contact the numbers below. They will direct your call to a member of staff who can discuss your options with you.
CUMH: 021 492 0500
UHW Labour Ward 051 842770
STGH Labour Ward 052 6177099
UHK Labour Ward on 066 7184324
Is it safe to continue antenatal check-ups?
We understand that you may be fearful about going to appointments while recommendations are in place such as such as staying home and practicing physical distancing. However, we still advise you to attend antenatal appointments where scheduled.
Our hospitals have taken steps to make it as safe as possible, such as screening, social distancing in waiting rooms and availability of hand sanitisers.
If you have any specific concerns, please call your hospital.
What antenatal support will I receive?
As antenatal classes in hospitals have been cancelled during COVID-19, we have provided selection of resources for expectant mothers online.
- UHW are offering antenatal classes live online. Please contact your midwife in Outpatients Department (OPD) on 051 848 000.
- STGH we are also offering mothers live parent craft classes online. Please contact the following number for more details: 086 0431660.
- Helpful resources on the CUMH website including recommended downloads and booklets for all expectant mothers:
http://www.cuh.hse.ie/Cork-University-Maternity-Hospital/News-Events-at-CUMH/Helpful-Resources-COVID-19/ - Useful videos produced by UHK for all expectant mothers, including labour, antenatal and breastfeeding:
http://uhk.ie/maternity/ - Online learning – pregnancy. Useful for all expectant mothers.
http://www.cuh.hse.ie/Cork-University-Maternity-Hospital/News-Events-at-CUMH/Online-Learning/ - Online learning – postnatal. Useful for all mothers.
http://www.cuh.hse.ie/Cork-University-Maternity-Hospital/News-Events-at-CUMH/Online-Learning-Postnatal/
What should I do if I have or am at risk of COVID-19 and I need to come to the hospital?
If you are advised to attend the hospital because you are ill, please contact the reception before arrival. Please do not travel by public transport. If it is not possible to travel by private car, please discuss with the hospital.
When you arrive, you will be asked about your symptoms. You will be requested to wear a mask if you have symptoms. You will them be directed through the patient care pathway for that particular hospital.
I’m feeling incredibly anxious about giving birth. What should I do to cope?
Many women are anxious about giving birth and the current situation can make things more stressful. Having a plan in place for your birth can help. We recommend sitting down with your partner to discuss the birth and draw up a birth plan. This can include details on who to phone when the labour begins, and who is to be your birthing partner when you give birth.
Please be reassured that our midwives are there to support you and will do their best to make the experience of giving birth as positive as they can and will guide you through each step. Please focus on taking care of yourself as much as you possibly can. Eat and drink well, and try to enjoy being pregnant as it is a special time.
If I have COVID-19, will I have to have a caesarean section?
It is recommended, to have a hospital birth where the baby can be watched closely and where caesarean section is available if needed. There are no reasons at the moment to choose a caesarean section instead of a vaginal delivery when a mother has COVID-19, unless the mother is very ill or another reason exists.
Can my birth partner come in with me when I give birth?
Your birth partner can join you when you are in strong, active labour and go to the delivery suite. They can stay with you until soon after the birth, – and then, they are kindly asked to go home. They will, of course, come back to collect you and your baby when you are being discharged from hospital. If you are having a caesarean birth, please speak to your hospital and they will advise you on when birthing partner can join you.
Useful advice for birth partners attending births can be found on the following link:
https://www.rcm.org.uk/labour-and-childbirth/
What support will I receive during induction/early labour?
We understand you may be concerned that your partner can’t be with you during the early stages of labour or induction. Our doctors and midwives are committed to providing you with excellent support in all stages of labour. You will have a midwife in the induction room at all times, you will be kept informed and you will be supported throughout.
When you are in the strong, active stage of labour your support person will be contacted and asked to come in for further support.
What breastfeeding supports are available?
Breastfeeding support services are up and running in our hospitals as usual. The midwives on the ward are your primary supports for breastfeeding. They are here to support you on your breastfeeding journey whether you’re a first time mum or not.
We also have lactation consultants available who visit mothers in the wards to provide additional help where needed. You can call them on the numbers below and if they not available, they will always call you back.
CUMH breastfeeding: 087 662 3874
UHW breastfeeding: 051 842757 :
STGH breastfeeding: 086 0431660 :
UHK breastfeeding: 066 7184318
You can also get great support online from breastfeeding.ie or mychild.ie and can speak to a breastfeeding expert live online. In addition the WHO website provides information on COVID-19 and breastfeeding.
STGH are offering mothers live breastfeeding classes online. Please contact the following number for more details:
STGH breastfeeding: 086 0431660
Patient’s perspective – what to expect?
Useful stories published in Irish newspapers:
19 April 2020: Pregnancy and COVID-19
29 May 2020: Wellbeing: Minding maternal mental health
1 June 2020: Giving birth in Ireland during COVID-19
How can you protect yourself and others?
Clean your hands often. Wash your hands with soap and water or, if not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:
- Before eating, after using the toilet;
- After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing;
- After having been in public places;
- After having touched surfaces in public places;
- After having touched other people.
Avoid touching your face, nose and eyes.
Avoid meetings, events and other social gatherings in areas with ongoing community transmission.
- Practice social distancing if COVID-19 is spreading in your community:
Avoid crowds, especially in confined and poorly ventilated spaces. - Do your grocery shopping at off-peak hours.
- Avoid using public transport during rush hours.
- Exercise outdoors instead of indoor settings.
The wearing of facemasks in public is recommended by the HSE where it is difficult to practice social distancing. As advice on this is changing regularly, please visit the HSE page on face coverings for more information.
We are still learning about COVID-19.
We don’t yet know how it affects all pregnant women and their babies.
Are pregnant women a high risk group?
The literature to date suggests that pregnant women are not a high risk group. Pregnant women do not appear more likely to contract COVID-19 infection than the general population. Literature and research to date reassuringly suggest that pregnant women are no more likely to experience severe or critical illness than non-pregnant women. Research is ongoing.
(RCPI, COVID-19 infection Guidance for Maternity Services May 2020)
Is it dangerous for me if I get COVID-19 when pregnant?
There is limited information about pregnant women who got sick with COVID-19. To date most cases in pregnant women have been mild, similar to the experience in the general population.
Pregnant women with other health problems may be considered more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. For example, lung problems, high blood pressure, pre-existing diabetes, gestational diabetes or cardiac disease.
Is it dangerous for my baby if I get COVID-19 when pregnant?
f you have COVID-19, you way worry about the effect of Covid 19 on the baby.
With regard to the transmission of the virus from mother to baby (vertical transmission), emerging evidence now suggests that transmission is possible but not proven. The proportion of pregnancies affected and the danger to the baby has yet to be determined.(RCPI, COVID-19 infection Guidance for Maternity Services May 2020).
There is limited data on the effect on the baby and mother (perinatal outcome) when the infection is acquired in the first and early second trimester of pregnancy. However studies have shown that babies with or at risk of COVID-19 had mild symptoms and outcomes were favourable.
(RCPI, COVID-19 infection Guidance for Maternity Services May 2020)
An increase in the risk of miscarriage in women affected by COVID-19 cannot be ruled out, as severe maternal illness with fever is associated with miscarriage.
Research has shown there is a higher risk of delivering preterm by women affected by COVID-19. However, it is not clear that preterm deliveries were related to maternal infection in every case. In about a third of reported cases the preterm delivery was indicated by fetal distress.
(RCPI, COVID-19 infection Guidance for Maternity Services May 2020)
You are likely to receive additional scans to monitor your baby in your third trimester, if you are diagnosed with COVID-19.
Research is ongoing and there are currently lots of international studies looking at this and information will be updated here in the coming months.
Can I breastfeed if I have COVID-19?
It is not yet clear whether COVID-19 can be transferred via breast milk. Other coronaviruses are destroyed by pasteurisation but there is no evidence to inform whether COVID-19 (if present) would be similarly destroyed. Small studies to date have not identified the virus in breast milk.
(RCPI, COVID-19 infection Guidance for Maternity Services May 2020)
The World Health Organisation recommends that women with COVID-19 can breastfeed if they wish to do so, but must be really careful to wash your hands and to use a facemask while feeding.
Another option is to pump or express the breastmilk by hand and have someone who is not sick feed it to the baby. If you pump or hand express your milk, make sure you wash your hands before doing so.
For more information on breastfeeding and COVID-19, visit the WHO website.
HSE
COVID-19 and pregnancy:
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus-and-pregnancy.html
HSE 24-hour COVID-19 care line:
