RESEARCH
Very little research on COVID-19 exists, but to date the research on pregnant women does not show an increased risk to their health. Preterm births have been reported in a small number of pregnancies where a mother tested positive, but whether these risks were related to infections is NOT known. There is no clear transmission of virus to fetus, and studies to date do not show COVID-19 in amniotic fluid or placenta, but these data are only from third trimester exposures. It is not clear that COVID-19 follows a transplacental route to fetus. The appearance of rashes in two newborns raises the specter of immunologic effects.
Pregnant women are at greater risk of severe morbidity and mortality with infections such as SARS and influenza because of their decreased lung capacity and their immune response. Accordingly, pregnancy should be considered a vulnerable time period with COVID-19. To date the clinical manifestations of pneumonia in pregnancy have been similar to the non-pregnant state. Women MUST pay attention to social distancing and hygiene.
