We’re expecting a baby, what is known about COVID-19 and pregnancy, prenatal care, and breastfeeding?
This is a scary time to be expecting a baby with worries about parent and baby health, visiting hospitals, and COVID-19. We’re still looking for definitive resources in Washington State and nationally for information. Medical knowledge is changing rapidly, please these sites for updates.
Parent Trust for Washington Children: Parent Help & Clases
With 40 years experience and partnerships across the state, Parent Trust for Washington Children is a respected, dependable source of education and support for parents, caregivers, children, teens and the professional community. On Facebook and seeking donations: DONATE HERE. Parent Trust has a dedicated page to Coronavirus and Parent Trust that details online and by phone resources including:
- Great Starts interactive online classes.
- The Family Help Line 1 800 932 4673 and Coaches
- Stress Management and Relaxation Training (SMART)
- Online Parenting Resources and Advice
Perinatal Support Washington: Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder Support
Perinatal Support Washington has been operating in WA state since 1987, and is one of the oldest Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder support chapters in the nation.
- Wonder if you need help? Whether you have or might have a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder, you deserve support. Call 1-88-404-7763. Hablan español. On Facebook.
- Perinatal Support Washington also has opportunities to VOLUNTEER and to DONATE HERE.
The Maternal Coalition
The Maternal Coalition works toward a mission that all pregnant and parenting people will have access to equitable and just care during all points of pregnancy and through the first year postpartum, irrespective of race, ethnicity or socio-economic background. The Maternal Coalition has a webpage here of COVID-19 Updates. To support the work of the Maternal Coalition, DONATE HERE. The COVID-19 page includes compiled and annotated resources regarding:
- Birthing Hospitals
- Behavioral health/Parenting Support/Other support
- Midwivery and Doula Services
- Other national Resources
Harvard Medical School: FAQs
- The Harvard Medical School’s Harvard Health Blog has posted and updated an FAQ “Pregnant and worried about the new coronavirus?“. The blog addresses common concerns including parent to baby transmission. The blog includes direct links to the handful of cited scientific studies. The page addresses:
- What can I do to protect myself from catching the coronavirus?
- Does becoming ill with COVID-19 increase risk of miscarriage or other complications?
- If I become sick, what is the risk of passing the virus on to my fetus or newborn?
- Should I continue to have prenatal visits?
- I am worried that doctors, even obstetricians, will be diverted in an emergency setting and may not be available when I am delivering. Will that be the case?
- I am worried about spending time in the hospital after delivery. Could this increase my risk of exposure to COVID-19?
If I test positive for COVID-19, can I breastfeed my baby?
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: FAQs
- ACOG is s professional membership organization for U.S. obstetrician–gynecologists. ACOG has posted a page of patient resources Coronavirus (COVID-19), Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding: A Message for Patients that is frequently updated. The page is Q&A of 20 questions, including:
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- How does COVID-19 affect pregnant people?
- How can COVID-19 affect a fetus?
- What should pregnant persons do to avoid the coronavirus?
- Should pregnant persons wear a mask or face covering?
- How will COVID-19 affect prenatal and postpartum care visits?
- How can I stay physically healthy right now?
- How can I manage stress, anxiety, and depression?
- I am being abused at home. How can I get help?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Pregnancy: FAQs
- The CDC’s dedicated page on Pregnancy and Breastfeeding covers risks to pregnancy, mother-to-child transmission, and breastfeeding and is available in Español, 繁體中文, 한국어, Tiếng Việt.
World Health Organization: FAQs
- The WHO has a Q&A page dated March 18, 2020 of Q&A on COVID-19, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. The page addresses:
- Are pregnant persons at higher risk from COVID-19?
- I’m pregnant. How can I protect myself against COVID-19?
- Should pregnant women be tested for COVID-19?
- Can COVID-19 be passed from a woman to her unborn or newborn baby?
- What care should be available during pregnancy and childbirth?
- Do pregnant persons with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 need to give birth by caesarean section?
- Can women with COVID-19 breastfeed?
- Can I touch and hold my newborn baby if I have COVID-19?
- I have COVID-19 and am too unwell to breastfeed my baby directly. What can I do?
