Covid infection during pregnancy under and over 20 weeks

Covid infection during pregnancy 

If you are pregnant and receive a positive Covid-19 result it is important you inform your community midwife even if you have no symptoms.  Complications of Covid-19 during pregnancy are rare but please be alert to the following symptoms and where to get help. You are less likely to be seriously affected if you have received both doses and a booster of the vaccine. For more information about the vaccine in pregnancy click here 

Supporting your recovery

• Most people recover from coronavirus within three weeks

• You may have mild symptoms and feel unwell for a short time before slowly starting to feel better

• To help you recover, you may wish to try:

- Rest

- Paracetamol (Ibuprofen should not be taken whilst pregnant)

- Regular fluids

• Coronavirus can leave some people feeling unwell for a long time - this is known as long COVID.

A minority of people with COVID-19 will suffer more severe symptoms. You should call 999 immediately if you experience the following:

• If you use a pulse oximeter, which tests how much oxygen is in your blood, and your levels are 92% or less (retake your reading immediately first on another finger)

• You are unable to complete short sentences when at rest due to breathlessness

• Your breathing gets worse suddenly

OR

if you develop these more general signs of serious illness:

• You cough up blood

• You feel cold and sweaty with pale or blotchy skin

• You collapse or faint

• You develop a rash that does not disappear with pressure (the ‘Glass Test’)

• Become agitated, confused or very drowsy

• You have stopped passing urine or are passing urine much less than usual

* You feel very unwell or think there’s something seriously wrong

• You have severe chest pain

You should tell the operator you are pregnant and that you may have coronavirus.  If you have a pulse oximeter give your oxygen saturation reading. These symptoms require urgent medical attention

You need urgent help.

Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999

If you experience any of the following COVID-19 symptoms, you should contact 111 as soon as possible or access 111 online

• Feeling breathless or having difficulty breathing, especially when standing up or moving

• Severe muscle aches or tiredness

• Shakes or shivers

• If you use a pulse oximeter and your blood oxygen level is consistently between 95% and 93%

• If you sense that something is wrong (general weakness, severe tiredness, loss of appetite, weeing much less than normal, are unable to care for yourself – simple tasks like washing and dressing or making food).

If you’re feeling very anxious or worried

If you have a headache that does not go away

If you cannot cope with your COVID-19 symptoms at home

If you have a high temperature (38ºC or above, or feel hot to touch)

You may be at higher risk of developing complications during pregnancy as a result of Covid-19 if you are

•           From a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic group

•           Overweight with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or more

•           If you have a pre-existing medical conditions

•           Aged over 35

•           Not Vaccinated

Please contact  your GP surgery or NHS 111 if you are concerned about your symptoms

You need to contact a doctor or nurse today.

Please ring your GP surgery or call NHS 111 - dial 111

Mild Covid-19 symptoms.  These are common symptoms. You may not have all of these but still feel unwell.

• High temperature: you feel hot to touch on your chest and back

- Headache

- Sore throat

- Runny nose

• Cough

• Muscle aches or tiredness

• Mild chest pain

• Dizziness or headache

• Loss of taste or sense of smell

• Diarrhoea and vomiting

• Rashes

Self care

Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your child, call NHS 111 – dial 111

Self Care

Rest

Drink plenty of water (6-8 glasses or 1.6L throughout the day)

Regular Paracetamol 2x 500mg tablets (1g) 4-6 hourly not exceeding 4g in 24hours. Do not take NSAIDS such a Ibuprofen whilst pregnant.

·        Let your community midwife know if you have tested positive to Covid-19.

If something just doesn't feel right contact your local maternity team

East and North Hertfordshire (The Lister Hospital):

01438 284124

West Essex (The Princess Alexandra Hospital):

01279 444455, extension 2945

South and West Hertfordshire (Watford General Hospital):

01923 217343