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Advice and information for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
Published Updated
There is currently little to indicate that pregnant women are at particular risk of a severe course of COVID-19 disease.
There is currently little to indicate that pregnant women are at particular risk of a severe course of COVID-19 disease.
Pregnancy
Currently, there is little evidence that pregnant women are at particular risk of a severe disease course with the new coronavirus. Pregnant women may have an increased risk of a more severe course of certain viral infections, such as influenza.
A large systematic review about COVID-19 among pregnant women has been recently published. 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 places 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.
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.
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.
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.
Vaccines
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
Healthcare professionals with patient contact are at risk of exposure to infection from sick people who need medical attention. The recommended infection control equipment should be used by all healthcare professionals during contact with a patient with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 disease.
As a precaution for healthcare professionals who are pregnant, it is recommended that other healthcare professionals should take samples and treat people with probable, suspected or confirmed COVID-19 disease where possible. Workplace adjustment should be done in consultation with the employer.
For healthcare professionals who are pregnant and who have pregnancy complications or chronic diseases with an increased risk of severe COVID-19 progression (see section on pregnant women and risk factors above), work adjustment or remote working should be assessed based on individual risk.
Birth and maternity
There is uncertainty about whether coronavirus can be transmitted from mother to child before or during birth. Babies born to mothers with COVID-19 that have been infected after birth have had mild or no symptoms. The studies performed so far indicate that the mother does not transmit the virus to the child via the placenta. The virus is mainly spread by droplet and contact transmission. Mothers who are sick may infect their child after birth and shall follow the infection control advice given by the healthcare personnel.
Women who give birth and who had confirmed COVID-19 just before birth can be together with their newborn after the birth, unless the mother is seriously ill or the child is very premature or sick.
However, there may be restrictions on visits to the mother and child.
Maternity and neonatal departments in Norway are prepared to handle women with confirmed COVID-19 giving birth and her baby and procedures have been issued in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
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).