Q&A Things Pregnant Mothers Need to Know! About COVID-19

Advice Since COVID-19 is a newly emerging infectious disease that spreads rapidly, knowledge and understanding about the virus are still limited. Treatment guidelines may change as new information becomes available. Therefore, everyone should continuously follow updates to take care of and protect their health as safely as possible.

What is Coronavirus?

Coronavirus is a family of viruses that cause infections in humans and animals such as camels, livestock, cats, and bats. In most human cases, the infection causes mild symptoms similar to the common cold, including fever, cough, and sneezing.

So, what exactly is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is one of the viruses in the Corona family, commonly found in humans and animals. However, it is one of the few strains that can be transmitted from animals to humans and cause disease. COVID-19 can cause severe respiratory infections and may lead to death. In the past, we have seen coronavirus transmissions from animals to humans causing severe outbreaks, such as MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV. The current outbreak is similar to those past events but is caused by the COVID-19 virus, also known as SARS-CoV-2.

How does COVID-19 affect pregnant women?

Currently, there are not many reports of COVID-19 infections in pregnant women. Medical evidence reported includes the following:

• There is no evidence that pregnant women are more likely to contract COVID-19 than the general population.
• There is no evidence that pregnant women infected with COVID-19 have different symptoms or a higher risk of severe illness than others. However, pregnant women are advised to be cautious of other respiratory infections such as influenza, as they are a high-risk group that may experience more severe symptoms.
• There is no evidence that COVID-19 infection affects pregnancy or the health of the fetus and newborn.
• There is no evidence that pregnant women infected with COVID-19 can transmit the virus to the fetus or newborn. COVID-19 has not been detected in amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood, vaginal secretions, throat swabs of newborns, or breast milk.
• Postpartum women infected with COVID-19 can breastfeed but must take precautions to prevent transmission to the baby by washing hands before touching the baby, wearing a mask at all times while breastfeeding, washing hands before handling breast pump bottles or equipment, and cleaning all equipment after use. Alternatively, a healthy family member or caregiver may feed the baby with expressed breast milk.

How should pregnant women protect themselves from COVID-19?

• Currently, there is no vaccine available to prevent COVID-19.
• The best prevention is to avoid exposure to the virus by:
  • Avoiding close contact with others (social distancing), maintaining a distance of about 6 feet (180 cm) or more.
  • Wearing a mask at all times in public places.
  • Washing hands frequently with soap for at least 20 seconds, especially after visiting public places or after coughing or sneezing.
  • If using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, ensure they contain at least 70% alcohol and rub thoroughly until dry.
  • Avoid touching the face, eyes, nose, and mouth, especially with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact or touching people who are sick or at risk of COVID-19 infection.
  • Clean frequently touched objects or surfaces daily, such as tables, doorknobs, light switches, phones, computers, and bathrooms.
• COVID-19 mainly spreads from person to person:
  • The virus is present in droplets of mucus and saliva released when coughing or sneezing.
  • These droplets can enter the mouth or nose of nearby people or be inhaled into the lungs.

Do pregnant women need to be tested for COVID-19?

• If experiencing symptoms such as illness, fever, cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, or runny nose, see a doctor for examination and treatment. If COVID-19 infection is suspected, the doctor will immediately order a virus test.
• If asymptomatic, the doctor will assess whether the person is at high risk of exposure. If so, testing will be conducted.
  • High-risk exposure means close contact with a confirmed patient, including:
    • Being within 1 meter of a patient for more than 5 minutes or being exposed to their cough or sneeze without protection, such as not wearing a mask.
    • Being in a closed, unventilated area such as an air-conditioned vehicle or room with a patient, within 1 meter for more than 15 minutes without protection.
• Those at risk within 14 days before symptom onset include:
  • Traveling to, coming from, or residing in areas with reported COVID-19 outbreaks.
  • Living with someone who has returned from an area with reported COVID-19 outbreaks.
  • Working in close contact with foreign tourists.
  • Having close contact with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients.
• COVID-19 testing is available at government hospitals and large private hospitals throughout Thailand.
• The test involves inserting a swab into the nasal and throat cavities to collect secretions for virus detection.

What will doctors do if a pregnant woman is infected?

• Obstetricians will provide standard care for all pregnant women during pregnancy and delivery.
• Care for pregnant women infected with COVID-19 is not different from those not infected.
• However, obstetricians will take extra precautions to prevent COVID-19 transmission during prenatal visits and delivery, following current treatment policies.
• Delivery methods will follow medical indications; cesarean section is not necessary unless medically indicated.