Women in late stages of pregnancy at higher COVID-19 risk

Women 25 weeks or more into their pregnancies are at high risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms if they are infected with the novel coronavirus, according to a study by a health ministry research team.

Pregnant women age 30 or older also face greater risk of severe symptoms, the study showed.

A member of the team is calling on pregnant women to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Earlier this month, an infected pregnant woman in her 30s in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, gave birth to a baby at her home after being unable to find a hospital to accept her, and the baby died. Alarmed by the incident, the prefectural government has asked medical institutions to increase the number of hospital beds.

A room designated for newborn babies whose mothers are infected with COVID-19 at Nihon University Itabashi Hospital in Tokyo’s Itabashi Ward | KYODO
The study covered 144 pregnant women who were infected with the coronavirus in and after January last year — 111 with mild symptoms, 31 with moderate symptoms and two who were seriously ill. Of the 31 moderately ill patients, 18 were classified as moderate II patients needing oxygen administration.

The study found that women who were 25 weeks or more into their pregnancies had 24% higher risk of being categorized as moderate II or becoming seriously ill.

The risk was 17% and 22% higher, respectively, for pregnant women aged 30 or older and those with 26.5 or higher on the body mass index, which gauges the degree of obesity.

Moderate II and seriously ill patients also showed a trend of premature births, but it is not known whether the trend was directly linked to the coronavirus as early delivery by cesarean section may take place for the treatment of the mother.

“If infected, pregnant women have dual risks of the coronavirus and childbirth, and there is a limit to the kinds of medicine that can be used for them,” Masashi Deguchi, a member of the ministry research team and specially appointed professor at Kobe University. “We want (pregnant women) to consider getting vaccinated to prevent infection.”

Increased Risk of Severe Illness
close up of pregnant person belly
Pregnant and recently pregnant people are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant people. Pregnancy causes changes in the body that could make it easier to get very sick from respiratory viruses like the one that causes COVID-19. These changes in the body can continue after pregnancy.

Severe illness means that a person with COVID-19 may need:

Hospitalization
Intensive care
A ventilator or special equipment to help them breathe
People with COVID-19 who become severely ill can die. See why pregnancy is included in the list of underlying medical conditions that increase a person’s risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

Certain factors can increase risk
Other factors can further increase a pregnant or recently pregnant person’s risk for getting severely ill from COVID-19, such as:

Having certain underlying medical conditions
Being older than 25 years
Living or working in a community with high numbers of COVID-19 cases
Living or working in a community with low levels of COVID-19 vaccination
Working in places where it is difficult or not possible to keep at least 6 feet apart from people who might be sick
Being part of some racial and ethnic minority groups, which have been put at increased risk of getting sick from COVID-19 because of the health inequities they face
Top of Page
Effect on Pregnancy Outcomes
Pregnant people with COVID-19 are more likely to experience preterm birth (delivering the baby earlier than 37 weeks) and might be more likely to have other poor outcomes related to pregnancy compared to pregnant people without COVID-19. Other poor pregnancy outcomes, such as pregnancy loss, have been reported.

See the latest data on birth and infant outcomes among pregnant women with COVID-19.

COVID-19 Vaccine and Pregnancy
COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all people 12 years and older, including people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future. If you have questions about getting vaccinated, talking with your healthcare professional might help, but is not required.

If you are pregnant and have questions about COVID-19 vaccine

If you would like to speak to someone about COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, you can contact MotherToBaby. MotherToBaby experts are available to answer questions in English or Spanish by phone or chat. The free and confidential service is available Monday–Friday 8am–5pm (local time). To reach MotherToBaby:

Call 1-866-626-6847
Chat live or send an email MotherToBabyexternal iconexternal icon
When you are fully vaccinated
If you are fully vaccinated, you can participate in many of the activities that you did before the pandemic. Getting vaccinated prevents severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. Unvaccinated people should get vaccinated and continue masking until they are fully vaccinated. To maximize protection from variants and prevent possibly spreading the virus to others, fully vaccinated people should wear a mask indoors in public in areas of substantial or high transmission. With the emergence of variants, this is more urgent than ever. Learn more about what you can do when you have been fully vaccinated.

Top of Page
Reducing Your Risk of Getting COVID-19 If You Are Not Fully Vaccinated
pregnant woman groceries
It is especially important for pregnant and recently pregnant people, and those who live or visit with them, to take steps to protect themselves and others from getting COVID-19.

Limit in-person interactions with people who might have been exposed to COVID-19, including people within your household, as much as possible. If you or someone in your household is sick with COVID-19, follow guidance for isolation.

Important Ways to Slow the Spread of COVID-19
Get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can. Find a vaccine.
Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth to help protect yourself and others.
Stay 6 feet apart from others who don’t live with you.
Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.
Top of Page
Staying Healthy During and After Your Pregnancy
Keep all of your healthcare appointments during and after pregnancy. Visit with your healthcare provider for all recommended appointments. If you’re concerned about going to your appointments in person because of COVID-19, ask your healthcare professional what steps they are taking to protect patients from COVID-19, or ask about telemedicine options. If you need help finding a healthcare professional, contact your nearest hospital, clinic, community health center,external icon or health department.

Talk to your healthcare professional about how to stay healthy and take care of yourself and the baby.
Ask any questions you have about the best place to deliver your baby. Delivering a baby is always safest under the care of trained healthcare professionals.
You should also talk to your healthcare professional if you think you are experiencing depression during or after pregnancy.
Get recommended vaccines during pregnancy. These vaccines can help protect you and your baby.
Get a flu vaccine every year. Others living in your household should also get vaccinated to protect themselves and you.
Get the Tdap vaccine to protect your baby against whooping cough, which can have similar symptoms to COVID-19. CDC recommends all pregnant people receive a Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy. In addition, everyone who is around the baby should be up to date with their whooping cough vaccine.
Call your healthcare professional if you have any concerns about your pregnancy, if you get sick, or if you think that you may have COVID-19.
Do not delay getting emergency care because of worries about getting COVID-19. Emergency departments have steps in place to protect you from getting COVID-19 if you need medical care.
If you need emergency help, call 911 right away. If someone else is driving you to the emergency department, call the emergency facility while you are on the way. If you must drive yourself, call before you start driving.
Tell them that you are pregnant or were recently pregnant and are having an emergency.
Seek medical care immediately if you experience any urgent maternal warning signs and symptoms (for example, headache that won’t go away, dizziness, fever, severe swelling of hand, face, arm or leg, trouble breathing, chest pain or fast-beating heart, severe nausea and throwing up, or vaginal bleeding or discharge during or after pregnancy). These symptoms could indicate a potentially life-threatening complication.