Giving Birth in a Pandemic

Anticipatory anxiety is a normal feeling for any woman about to give birth, but against the backdrop of COVID-19, new worries are overshadowing thoughts of going into labour.

Concerns about the safety of giving birth in a hospital environment, whether or not an elective caesarean section can still go ahead, and even whether doulas and birth partners can attend are all topics causing a great deal of discussion for mothers and midwives alike.

Is it Dangerous for Pregnant Women to Get COVID-19?

As COVID-19 is still a new disease that hasn’t yet been well studied, its effects on pregnant women and their developing babies isn’t fully understood (Healthline 2020).

To date, there is no hard evidence to suggest that pregnant women are any more prone to COVID-19 than other people. That said, changes to the immune system mean pregnant women are often considered to be at higher than average risk from infections (Taylor 2020).

However, given that detailed information regarding the impact of COVID-19 infection in pregnant women is still very limited, current medical advice is based on what has been learnt from previous influenza outbreaks, as well the SARS epidemic of 2003.

Changes such as reduced lung function, increased cardiac output, increased oxygen consumption and changes to the immune system occur during pregnancy, which is why influenza can be a potentially serious disease for pregnant women (RANZCOG - COVID-19 Statement 2020).