CDC study: Pregnant women at greater risk of COVID-19 complications
"This new study did show that whenever women who are pregnant, in the same age group, get symptoms of coronavirus, that they are more likely to have severe outcomes like requiring mechanical ventilation or requiring a machine to help them with breathing," said Dr. Michael Aziz, a maternal fetal physician with Allegheny Health Network.
"This new study did show that whenever women who are pregnant, in the same age group, get symptoms of coronavirus, that they are more likely to have severe outcomes like requiring mechanical ventilation or requiring a machine to help them with breathing," said Dr. Michael Aziz, a maternal fetal physician with Allegheny Health Network.
"This new study did show that whenever women who are pregnant, in the same age group, get symptoms of coronavirus, that they are more likely to have severe outcomes like requiring mechanical ventilation or requiring a machine to help them with breathing," said Dr. Michael Aziz, a maternal fetal physician with Allegheny Health Network.
A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that pregnant women who are positive for COVID-19, and symptomatic, are at greater risk of complications from the virus.
"This new study did show that whenever women who are pregnant, in the same age group, get symptoms of coronavirus, that they are more likely to have severe outcomes like requiring mechanical ventilation or requiring a machine to help them with breathing," said Dr. Michael Aziz, a maternal fetal physician with Allegheny Health Network. "They're also more likely to end up requiring a machine to help them oxygenate their blood and they're more likely to end up in an intensive care unit."
Dr. Aziz said the study also shows there is a slight increase in the chance of miscarriage and in premature birth.
"Sometimes, if we're having trouble with ventilation or breathing in a pregnant patient, we can move toward delivery if the question is between being able to breath and having an early baby, " Dr. Aziz said. "People need to breath, so sometimes we're having earlier babies when people get coronavirus."
Dr. Aziz said the baby typically does well in the womb.
"We don't think that coronavirus is passed from mom to baby in the womb. We do know that sometimes the babies, after they're born, can get coronavirus from their mom — about 3% of the time," Dr. Aziz said.
Aziz said the best advice for pregnant women is the same advice we are all being given: "The main thing is to keep social distancing, utilize a face covering and don't take your mask off unless you're around members who live under your same roof."
Click here to read the study.