What First Steps Should a Pregnant Women With COVID Take?
If you or a member of your family has been diagnosed with COVID-19, you should know a few things you should do as a pregnant patient. There are travel restrictions for pregnant women with the disease, as well as vaccination and treatment options. In addition, you may want to consider staying home and recovering while you get better.
Travel restrictions for pregnant women with COVID-19
Your health care provider should outline travel restrictions for pregnant women with COVID-19. The best time for pregnant patients to travel is during their second trimester when morning sickness is likely over and other discomforts have not set in. However, the last trimester is difficult for pregnant women, especially those at risk for preterm labor. Travel restrictions for COVID-19 may vary from state to state, but the CDC offers a travel restriction map.
COVID-19 is spread through close contact and respiratory droplets that can land on mouths, noses, and lungs. As a result, pregnant women may be more likely to contract viral respiratory infections, making it crucial to consider the risk before traveling.
Staying home while you get better
The good news for pregnant women is that the illness is rarely life-threatening. While COVID-19 can cause pneumonia in pregnant women, it is unlikely to pass between the mother and unborn child during pregnancy. As a result, pregnant women should avoid contact with sick people.
If you suspect you suffer from COVID, you must see a doctor as soon as possible. If possible, try to stay home and avoid public transportation. In addition, it would help if you avoided close contact with others, especially in crowded areas. If you can’t stay home, stay away from the public and your pets.
Vaccination
Vaccination is one of the first steps a pregnant patient with COVID should take to protect her unborn child. The CDC and ACOG recommend that pregnant and lactating women receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The World Health Organization has also stated that there are no adverse effects from the COVID-19 vaccine in pregnant women. First, however, discussing vaccination with a health care provider is essential.
The vaccination is free for pregnant women and unborn children. It can be billed to insurance at no cost and is not required for undocumented individuals. In Massachusetts, vaccination is free and is available to all individuals. Those who do not have health insurance can seek reimbursement from the federal government.
Treatment options
Treatment options for pregnant patients with COVID-19 infection are limited. These women should be evaluated as soon as possible, preferably in the hospital. Who should consider their gestational age and clinical history in determining treatment options? Some patients may require intubation and admission to the intensive care unit.
A multidisciplinary team, including obstetricians, hematologists, and internists, should consider the use of anticoagulants during pregnancy. The team should assess the disease’s severity and any potential pregnancy complications, such as pregnancy-related bleeding. The timing of delivery and other factors must also be taken into account. If antepartum thromboprophylaxis is not an option, postpartum thromboprophylaxis should be considered if the patient is hospitalized.
Aspirin at 75 to 162 mg is generally safe during pregnancy. In addition to limiting the risk of fetal harm, aspirin reduces the production of thromboxane A2, a potent vasoconstrictor. Therefore, pregnant women with COVID-19 should be treated according to the guidelines for pregnant women.
NICU admission
Infection control is critical for all healthcare facilities when treating pregnant patients with COVID. When a pregnant woman suspects she may have COVID, it is vital to inform the obstetric unit of her condition as early as possible so that the team can make the proper preparations for labor and delivery. This includes identifying the fitting room and ensuring infection control supplies are in place. The healthcare provider should also ensure that all staff members are knowledgeable and competent to follow infection control requirements.
The study included pregnant women who were at least 24 weeks of gestation and had a documented COVID-19 infection. Nasopharyngeal RT-PCR confirmed the condition, and the pregnancy was monitored to see how the disease progressed. The clinical data for each patient were extracted from medical records and reviewed electronically from diagnosis to delivery. The study excluded pregnant women who were less than 24 weeks gestation, pregnant women with any other comorbidities, or who had a history of malnutrition. Additionally, patients with morbid obesity were excluded from the study.