Safety Tips for Pregnant Women During COVID-19
As the world continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone is faced with their own set of fears and anxieties. If you or a loved one is pregnant or going through the surrogacy process, chances are that some of those uncertainties are mounting. It’s not just your life at risk; it’s the life of an unborn child, too.
Here at Road to Baby, we want to help keep families safe throughout these trying times. Continue reading below to learn more about the precautions pregnant women can take during the COVID-19 pandemic, and remember we’re always just a phone call away if you have questions or concerns about your pregnancy or how COVID-19 impacts the surrogacy process.
Social Distancing
While social distancing is imperative for all of us to practice throughout the outbreak, it is especially important for surrogate mothers. Though there are no studies that show pregnant women are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, the fact that their immune systems are weakened during pregnancy means they are more susceptible to some viral infections.
Because of this, social distancing becomes even more important for pregnant women and their loved ones to practice. Follow practical social distancing tips set forth by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), including:
Avoiding non-essential travel
Remaining at least 6 feet away from others if travel is required
Avoiding physical contact, including hugs and handshakes
Cleaning and Disinfecting
There are no studies showing pregnant women can pass the infection to the child during pregnancy. Since research is still limited, it is vital that pregnant women follow the same precautions given to the general public, including frequent handwashing and home disinfecting. While it might be encouraging that a link has not been identified between pregnant women, the child they’re carrying, and the disease, the fact remains that they are still considered an at-risk population due to their weakened immune system and should take extra precautions.
As is recommended to the general public, pregnant women should wash their hands frequently, avoid contact with their eyes, nose, and mouth, and disinfect their living spaces often. Remember to clean often-touched devices and spaces, such as your phone, counters, sinks, and cabinet handles.
Continue Prenatal Care
With essential businesses remaining open, it is crucial that pregnant women and surrogate mothers continue their prenatal and, eventually, postpartum care with their OB-GYN or other healthcare professional. Healthcare professionals are deemed essential for a reason, and continuing your care is important to a healthy pregnancy.
With that said, there are ways to adjust your prenatal care to limit your chances of contracting the infection. You may work with your OB-GYN to schedule more over-the-phone or video appointments, also known as telemedicine. This allows you to receive the care you need without exposing yourself to the infection.
No matter how difficult the situation is, we are committed to promoting the safety of our community. If you begin showing emergency symptoms of COVID-19, visit the emergency room immediately. Being a surrogate mother is a selfless act, and that is only more true during this crisis. If you have more questions about how our surrogacy agency is adapting, give us a call today.