News Flash

For Immediate Release

09/11/2020                        

Phone: 980-432-1800
Website: www.rowancountync.gov/covid-19
Email: covid-19@rowancountync.gov

Rowan County Case Information: https://bit.ly/rowan-covid19-hub

COVID-19 and pregnancy

Based on what we know at this time, pregnant people might be at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant people. Additionally, pregnant people with COVID-19 may be at increased risk for other adverse outcomes, such as preterm birth.

Take steps to protect yourself from COVID-19

There is no way to ensure you have zero risk of infection, so it is important to understand the risks and know how to be as safe as possible. In general, the more people you interact with, the more closely you interact with them, and the longer that interaction, the higher your risk of getting and spreading COVID-19.

Here are preventive steps you and people you live with can take:

• Limit close contact interactions with other people as much as possible.
• When going out or interacting with others outside your immediate household,
  • Wear a mask, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Note that wearing a mask is not a substitute for other everyday prevention actions like washing hands frequently and avoiding close contact with other people.
  • Avoid others who are not wearing masks or ask others around you to wear a mask, if possible.
  • Stay at least 6 feet away from others outside your household.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid activities where taking protective measures may be difficult and where social distancing can’t be maintained.

Call your healthcare provider if you have any health concerns.

These concerns may include:

• You think you have COVID-19 (call within 24 hours).
• You think you are experiencing depression during or after pregnancy.
• You have any questions related to your health.

Don’t delay getting emergency care because of COVID-19.

Call 911 or go to your local emergency department.

If you are going to the emergency department, call and tell them that you are pregnant and are having an emergency. They should have a plan to protect you from getting COVID-19.

If someone else is driving, call while you’re on the way. If you need to drive yourself to the emergency department, call before you start driving.

Decide if your newborn is rooming-in with you in the hospital.

CDC recognizes that the ideal setting for the care of a healthy, full-term newborn during the birth hospitalization is within the mother’s room (“rooming-in”). Current evidence suggests that the risk of a newborn getting COVID-19 from its mother is low, especially when she uses appropriate precautions before and during care of the newborn, such as wearing a mask and practicing hand hygiene.

If you are diagnosed with or test positive for the virus that causes COVID-19, you should discuss with your healthcare provider the risks and benefits of having your newborn stay in the same room with you. This conversation should begin during prenatal care if possible. Having your newborn stay with you in the same room has the benefit of facilitating breastfeeding and maternal-newborn bonding. Potential risks may include giving the virus to the newborn, although current evidence suggests the risk of a newborn getting COVID-19 from their mother is low if precautions are taken. After discussing, make an informed decision of whether your newborn is staying in the same room with you while in the hospital.

Do not put a face shield or mask on your baby.

A face shield could increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or accidental suffocation and strangulation. Babies move frequently. Their movement may cause the plastic face shield to block their nose and mouth, or cause the strap to strangle them.

There are also no data supporting the use of face shields among babies for protection against COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses.

CDC recommends all people 2 years of age and older wear a mask in public settings and when around people who don’t live in their household. CDC does not recommend use of face shields as a substitute for masks for the general public, including pregnant or breastfeeding mothers.

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Contact:
TJ Brown
704-216-8918
tj.brown@rowancountync.gov

Download Media Release COVID-19 - September 11, 2020 (PDF)