It’s no secret that having COVID while pregnant can pose additional risks. Doctors have been talking about this for a long time, and warn pregnant women to be especially careful to reduce their risk of contracting the virus. Now, a new study shows that people who get sick with COVID while pregnant have a 15 times higher risk of needing a ventilator than non-pregnant people during their illness.
That is a careful consideration for anyone who is pregnant or who is trying to conceive. The study looked at 13,000 pregnant people in 12 different studies and 12 countries, including the United States. Two thousand people have contracted COVID, while 11,000 have tested negative.
Pregnant women who test positive need to be on a ventilator at a rate 15 times higher than non-pregnant people with COVID, and being pregnant also means they have a seven times higher risk of dying. Unfortunately, the concerns for pregnant women infected with COVID do not end with those risks.
There was also an increased risk of high blood pressure, blood clots, pre-eclampsia, and other issues, while babies often had lower birth weights and were born prematurely. About three percent of pregnant women with COVID require ICU care, but that’s a larger number than non-pregnant women.
The results of the study were not completely unexpected, but they once again emphasized the seriousness of contracting COVID during pregnancy. There are many reasons why pregnant women are more at risk, and the most important thing for anyone who is pregnant or trying to conceive is to reduce their risk of contracting the virus.
being up-to-date on vaccines is one of the easiest ways to lower the risk of contracting COVID, and also to lower the risk of serious complications if a pregnant woman contracts the virus. Getting vaccinated against the flu may also help, as it is a type of respiratory illness. At the end of the day, the best thing pregnant women can do is follow their doctor’s advice.
In these unprecedented times, intended parents and pregnant women are faced with situations that no one imagined or planned for. While you can’t plan for every possible scenario, working with an experienced attorney can help protect you and your child through the surrogacy process. To learn more, contact The Surrogacy Law Center today.
