Category : Healthcare
Pregnancy does not increase the risk of COVID-19 infection and most pregnant women will be asymptomatic or have mild disease. But their health may deteriorate rapidly due to covid disease and that might affect the well-being of the fetus. Hence it is important that they take all precautions to protect themselves from acquiring COVID-19, including taking vaccination against COVID-19.
Symptomatic pregnant women are at increased risk of severe disease and death. In case of severe disease, pregnant women need hospitalization. Pregnant women with comorbidities like high blood pressure, obesity, gestational diabetes, age over 35 years are at a higher risk of severe illness due to COVID-19.
If pregnant women become infected with COVID 19 there is an increased risk of premature labor, low birth weight babies and rarely death of a baby before it is born (intrauterine death). Most of the babies born to COVID-positive mothers are asymptomatic at birth but need COVID testing and observation.
The COVID-19 vaccines COVAXIN and COVISHIELD approved by the Government of India are safe and vaccination protects pregnant women against COVID-19 illness. Like any medicine, a vaccine may have side effects which are generally mild. After vaccination, there can be a mild fever, pain at the injection site or tiredness for 1-3 days. The long-term adverse effects and safety of the vaccine for fetus and child are not established yet. Rarely (one in 1-5 lakh persons), pregnant women may experience the following symptoms within 20 days after getting the COVID-19 vaccination which may require immediate attention. Report to physician or hospital immediately if you develop shortness of breath (difficulty in breathing), chest pain, persistent abdominal pain with or without vomiting, pain in limbs/pain on pressing the limbs or swelling in the limbs (arm or calf), small pinpoint hemorrhages (petechiae) or bruising of the skin beyond the injection site. Rare complications like weakness/paralysis of limbs or any particular side of the body, seizures with or without vomiting (in the absence of the previous history of seizures), severe and persistent headaches with or without vomiting (in the absence of the previous history of migraine or chronic headache), persistent vomiting without any obvious reason, blurred vision/pain in eyes.
Even after taking the COVID vaccine continue practicing appropriate behaviors and practices like, wearing a double mask, practice frequent handwashing, maintain physical distance and avoid going to crowded places.