(U.S.) – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Are pregnant women more susceptible to infection, or at an increased risk of severe illness, morbidity, or mortality with COVID-19, compared with the general public?
The CDC explains that they do not have information from published scientific reports about the susceptibility of pregnant women to COVID-19. Officials note that pregnant women experience immunologic and physiologic changes which might make them more susceptible to viral respiratory infections, including COVID-19. Pregnant women also might be at risk for severe illness, morbidity, or mortality compared to the general population as observed in cases of other related coronavirus infections [including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)* and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)] and other viral respiratory infections, such as influenza, during pregnancy.
Pregnant women should engage in usual preventive actions to avoid infection like washing hands often and avoiding people who are sick.
Are pregnant women with COVID-19 at increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes?
CDC officials explain that they do not have information on adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with COVID-19. Pregnancy loss, including miscarriage and stillbirth, has been observed in cases of infection with other related coronaviruses [SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)] during pregnancy. High fevers during the first trimester of pregnancy can increase the risk of certain birth defects.
Are pregnant healthcare personnel at increased risk of adverse outcomes if they care for patients with COVID-19?
Pregnant healthcare personnel (HCP) should follow risk assessment and infection control guidelines for HCP exposed to patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Adherence to recommended infection prevention and control practices is an important part of protecting all HCP in healthcare settings. Information on COVID-19 in pregnancy is very limited; facilities may want to consider limiting exposure of pregnant HCP to patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, especially during higher-risk procedures (e.g., aerosol-generating procedures) if feasible based on staffing availability.
Can pregnant women with COVID-19 pass the virus to their fetus or newborn?
Vertical transmission includes the transmission of a pathogen from a mother to her fetus or newborn before, during, or immediately after delivery. Transplacental transmission occurs during pregnancy when maternal viremia leads to transmission across the placenta (e.g., Zika virus). Perinatal transmission at the time of delivery can occur when the newborn comes into exposure with maternal bodily fluids during delivery (e.g., as occurs with herpes simplex virus [HSV]), through the transmission of the infectious virus through the breastmilk (e.g., as occurs with HIV), or other bodily fluids (e.g., as occurs with group B Streptococcus and vaginal fluids, influenza viruses and respiratory droplets), and some pathogens are transmitted by multiple routes.
In limited recent case series of infants born to mothers with COVID-19 published in the peer-reviewed literature, none of the infants have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.* Additionally, the virus was not detected in samples of amniotic fluid.
Limited information is available about vertical transmission for other coronaviruses (MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV) but vertical transmission has not been reported for these infections.
Are infants born to mothers with COVID-19 during pregnancy at an increased risk of adverse outcomes?
