Pregnancy

Pregnant women may have an increased risk of a more severe course of certain viral infections, such as influenza. It appears that pregnant women with COVID-19 who develop symptoms have a slightly higher risk of needing treatment in a hospital, intensive care unit and with a respirator compared with non-pregnant women of the same age. However, young women have a very low risk of severe COVID-19 disease course.

Studies have so far shown:

• It is possible that a larger proportion of pregnant women infected with COVID-19 do not develop symptoms, but it may be because healthy pregnant women are being tested to a greater extent. The most common symptoms among pregnant women are coughing and difficulty breathing. It appears that fever and moderate general symptoms are not as common as in non-pregnant women.
• It appears that pregnant women with COVID-19 who develop symptoms have a slightly greater risk of needing treatment in hospital, intensive care units and with a respirator.
• The risk groups for severe course of COVID-19 are the same as for others: underlying conditions such as diabetes (i.e. diabetes that began before pregnancy), cardiovascular disease and / or obesity. See Risk groups and their relatives
• Some studies suggest that the risk of premature birth is somewhat higher if the mother has COVID-19. However, this does not apply to spontaneous births, and may be related to how pregnant COVID-19 patients have been treated in different places.
• COVID-19 has not been shown to increase the risk of miscarriage during pregnancy.
• It is currently uncertain whether the coronavirus can be transmitted from mother to child before or during birth.

In the studies, the incidence and risk of a severe disease course among pregnant women with COVID-19 is partly compared with the risk among pregnant women without COVID-19, partly with the risk among non-pregnant women in the same age group, and partly only observed and described. It is stressed that the figures are uncertain, because many countries test pregnant women for coronavirus regardless of symptoms to a large degree. Some countries have had routines for delivering babies from pregnant women with confirmed COVID-19 infection by Caesarean section and also in treating them differently than other pregnant women. The uncertainty is great, which is reflected in the researchers' conclusions. Read more in the research review of the study.

To prevent infection with the new coronavirus among pregnant women, the same advice applies as for the general population: good hand hygiene and limit contact with others than your closest contacts (you can decide who is "closest" yourself, but they should not be too many, and should be the same over time). You can discuss the possibility of working from home with your employer.

If any of your closest contacts have symptoms of a respiratory tract infection, you should limit contact with them if possible, and otherwise have good hand hygiene and follow other basic infection control tips.

• Social distance and fewer contacts
• Quarantine and isolation

Pregnancy check-ups

All pregnancy check-ups should follow normal guidelines. 

Women who have symptoms of respiratory infection or who have confirmed COVID-19 must contact the healthcare service before check-ups to discuss how these should be carried out.

If pregnant women are concerned for their own health or the health of the foetus, extra check-ups can be carried out according to the usual criteria. The Norwegian Gynaecological Association has issued advice about pregnancy check-ups for women during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Pregnant women with chronic diseases or pregnancy complications should discuss with their doctor whether or not there is reason to exercise extra care and if workplace adjustment is necessary. 

• Risk groups and their relatives

• Pregnancy and COVID-19 - Norwegian Medical Association (in Norwegian)

Vaccines

To date, there is little experience with vaccination of pregnant and breastfeeding women. Therefore, there is currently no general recommendation for vaccination of pregnant women. Available data do not indicate that vaccination is harmful to the pregnant woman or the foetus. Pregnant women who are at risk of serious disease course due to another illness that is prioritised for vaccination can be assessed individually by a doctor when they are offered the vaccine. The risk of a severe disease course in the pregnant woman should then be weighed against a possible unknown risk when vaccinating the mother and child. Breastfeeding mothers who are given priority for vaccination due to another illness or occupational situation can be vaccinated.

• Who will get the coronavirus vaccine?

Vaccination began in December 2020 in Norway. When you are fully vaccinated, it is likely that you will have a lower risk of becoming ill with COVID-19. We do not know how well the vaccine prevents transmission. Vaccinated people should therefore continue to follow the current infection control advice. Vaccination is currently not exempt from the requirement for quarantine after travel or close contact.

Pregnant women in their second and third trimester, and pregnant women in their first trimester who have risk factors, are recommended to take the seasonal influenza vaccine. This advice applies regardless of coronavirus infection.

Healthcare professionals who are pregnant

Birth and maternity 

• Guidance and procedures for children and COVID-19 - Norwegian Medical Association (in Norwegian)

After returning home from the hospital, it is important to remember that new mothers may be vulnerable and need support from those around them, even during the corona pandemic. Anyone who visits newborns should be healthy and without symptoms.

Breastfeeding

Coronavirus has not been detected in breast milk from women with COVID-19 infection, where this has been studied. Women with COVID-19 infection can therefore breastfeed normally. This is also the advice of the World Health Organization (WHO).