Health break: Prenatal health during the COVID-19 pandemic
Lisa, a mom of two who is five months pregnant with twins, recently commented, “It’s a scary time to be pregnant. It feels different this time.”
There’s no doubt that these times are filled with uncertainty and anxiety, and navigating prenatal care is indeed different during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pregnant women have lots of questions: Will I have to wear a mask during labor and delivery? Who will be allowed in the room with me? Will my hospital stay be shorter than normal? Will my older children be allowed to visit the new baby in the hospital? What will life look like when I bring the baby home?
It’s important during this time to communicate openly with your health care provider about whatever concerns and questions you have. Because answers to these questions are rapidly evolving, you’ll want to discuss the most up-to-date recommendations with them.
At your prenatal care visits, your provider will help you make decisions about prenatal care. Talk to them about your COVID-19-related concerns and take their advice to ensure you and your baby stay safe during and after pregnancy.
Pregnant women do not seem to have a greater risk of contracting COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. But because pregnancy alters a woman’s immune system, pregnant women are at a higher risk of severe complications when infected with viruses from the same family as COVID-19 and other viral respiratory infections, such as the flu. From what experts know about COVID-19 so far, it’s unlikely but not certain whether the virus can be passed to a fetus during pregnancy. The virus has not been detected in amniotic fluid or breast milk.
Because of all the unknowns, it’s especially important to take steps during pregnancy to protect yourself and your family. These are the same measures we are all encouraged to do: washing your hands often, covering coughs and sneezes with your elbow, cleaning surfaces like countertops, light switches and cellphones frequently, social distancing, wearing a mask in public, and staying away from sick people. Report possible symptoms – including fever, cough, or difficulty breathing – to your health care provider.
Hospitals across Pennsylvania continue to be safe places for delivery and are taking every precaution to protect the health of patients and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Mount Nittany Medical Center is taking preventive measures to protect patients, including mothers and babies, and this may include being screened upon entry to the office and hospital, limiting visitors, and being asked to wear a mask. These recommendations are continually evolving, so please discuss the current guidelines with your provider.
Coming home from the hospital with a newborn raises more questions and concerns. Unfortunately, women who are delivering within the next few weeks need to avoid having visitors in their homes because newborn babies are susceptible to person-to-person transmission of all viruses, including COVID-19. The situation may change a few months from now, although it’s impossible to know.
Pregnancy can be stressful even in normal times, and even more so in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Make sure to manage your stress and maintain mental health by eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep, and staying connected with friends and family. Give yourself breaks from COVID-19-related news and social media, and talk to your healthcare provider if you’re feeling sad or anxious. Rest assured that we at Mount Nittany Health will support you and provide you with the best possible care throughout your prenatal-to-postpartum journey.
Mount Nittany Health is committed to the health, safety and well-being of its patients, staff and community. We are prepared for potential infectious disease outbreaks, whether its measles, flu or new viruses like coronavirus as part of our commitment to prevent disease and ensure a healthy community for all. We rigorously follow the guidance from the CDC and Pennsylvania Department of Health for screening and testing of patients for COVID-19; ensuring all levels of protection for our patients, staff and community.
As the situation continues to evolve, we have taken steps to prepare and protect our community, including a dedicated COVID-19 wing, limiting visitors in our facilities at Mount Nittany Health, except for special circumstances, screenings, test collection sites, masking requirements, and rescheduling elective and non-essential services. We continue to evaluate and will announce further measures as needed with the focus on our community’s health and well-being.
Please visit mountnittany.org/coronavirus for more information.