Pregnancy and COVID-19 Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy

We are facing a time of great uncertainty. This new situation, unknown and new to everyone, can cause aspects such as stress or anxiety to be significantly accentuated. If we add that you are pregnant, doubts and questions can flood your head. It is very important to be well informed through official organisms of how confinement and COVID-19 affect during pregnancy. For this reason, I am going to try to resolve doubts and, at the same time, give some advice on how to best cope with this situation.

 Am I more at risk of becoming infected?

The first question that every pregnant girl will have is if there is a greater probability of becoming infected with coronavirus (COVID-19) during pregnancy. The truth is that there are few data on pregnant women who have suffered from COVID-19, but what little there is seems to indicate that there is no more chance of becoming infected while pregnant. And if this were the case, you would pass the disease as a young and healthy person, as long as there are no previous pathologies.

Can COVID-19 be transmitted to the fetus?

Another question that may surely arise is whether the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted to the fetus. At the moment, there is insufficient evidence to claim that the virus is transmitted from mother to fetus during the third trimester of pregnancy. In fact, in two studies published in February on 18 cases of COVID-19 in pregnant women in the third trimester, it is evident that none developed severe pneumonia, died, or had a child with the disease. Even so, it is always advisable to go to your gynecologist or midwife for more information.

What precautions do I have to take to avoid COVID-19 if I am pregnant?

As a general recommendation, pregnant women should take the same precautions as the rest of the population. Always trying not to leave home or be in contact with other people. If, even so, you have to leave the house, the recommendations are: wash your hands well with soap and water or with a disinfectant and frequently, maintain a protective distance from other people, cover your mouth and nose with your elbow flexed or with a disposable tissue when coughing or sneezing. It is important to always bear in mind that, if any symptoms such as fever, cough or general discomfort appear, it is necessary to have medical assistance.

Practical advice for pregnancy during confinement

When we are at home, sometimes out of boredom, we can go to the pantry several times a day and peck. This does not have to be bad, as long as they are healthy snacks. So here is my first tip: always have healthy snacks on hand that provide a good dose of nutrients for both the future mother and the fetus. Here are some examples:

Fruit cut in a tupper in the fridge.

Hummus with carrot sticks and celery.

Yogurt with nuts.

Chia pudding with fruit.

Milkshake, banana, strawberries and oatmeal.

Toast with tomato and avocado

Cherry tomatoes

Move around and not sit on the sofa. You have a lot of videos on social networks to do a little sport at home. Go ahead and move the skeleton! Pilates is usually very good, as long as they are classes for pregnant women as there are positions that change during pregnancy.

Take the opportunity to do pelvic floor exercises. Set yourself a daily routine and always do them at the same time so that it is easy to remember. These exercises will help you strengthen the pelvic area, which is so important during labor and postpartum.

Eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables. The consumption of these foods will provide fiber, vitamins and minerals, essential to maintain a good immune system, as well as prevent possible constipation (very common in pregnancy).

Eat 5 meals a day and try to keep the times the same every day to maintain a correct daily routine.

Remember nuts, whole grains and legumes that will provide you with healthy fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals.

Stay calm and avoid stress. Doing relaxation and breathing exercises can help you. Yoga for pregnant women is advisable because it relaxes you while stretching and keeps you active.

Remember that the World Health Organization (WHO) insists that pregnant women and those who have recently given birth, including those affected by COVID-19, should go to their routine medical appointments, and not suspend them due to the pandemic .