Right now, many mothers-to-be have the same question: What is the risk of COVID-19 to me and my baby?
Amy Baker, DO, OB-GYN, CHI Saint Joseph Medical Group – Obstetrics and Gynecology, said that although the worries mothers have right now are understandable, she wants them to know that the overall risk to pregnant women is still low.
“We’ve been fortunate to not have very many positive cases,” Dr. Baker said. “Obviously, there are a lot of unknowns, but so far, COVID-19 has not been shown to be as severe in pregnancy as other viral illnesses. However, pregnant women with other comorbidities may be at increased risk of severe illness.”
One of the most important things pregnant women can do right now, along with maintaining prenatal care appointments, is follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Wear a mask in public, wash hands frequently, maintain physical distancing, and limit contact with others. CHI Saint Joseph Medical Group has also implemented universal COVID-19 testing before hospital admission to reduce the risk of virus contraction.
“We’re managing pregnancy similarly to how we would outside of COVID-19, but low-risk patients may have spaced out appointments to limit their risk of exposure,” Dr. Baker said. “We are still providing the same level of care for mom and baby’s well-being.”
Keeping up with prenatal appointments is vital for you and your baby’s health. Click here to learn more about obstetrics care at CHI Saint Joseph Medical Group.
A version of this article originally appeared in the Fall 2020 edition of Spirit of Health. For more stories like this one, subscribe to Spirit of Health magazine today.
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