By Nsunjo Erica
A new research study has found that pregnant women are less likely to show symptoms of COVID-19 before being admitted to hospitals than non-pregnant women of similar age.
The study further showed that pregnant women may be at increased risk of needing admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) than non-pregnant women and that pregnant women who have COVID-19 appear more likely to develop respiratory complications.
Research shows that some of the non-pregnant women admitted and before being admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 report symptoms such as fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. However, recently pregnant women with COVID-19 are less likely to report these same symptoms.
Researchers say that not showing COVID-19 symptoms but requiring ICU could be partially attributed to the understanding that a mother’s immune system is often compromised to protect the baby. Additionally, the lungs and the cardiovascular system that the COVID-19 attacks mainly are already under strain during pregnancy.
The study also found that a quarter of all babies born to mothers with COVID-19 are likely to be admitted to a neonatal unit and are at increased risk of admission than those born to mothers without the COVID-19 virus.
Research however revealed that it isn’t yet very clear about the effect of COVID-19 on babies and pregnant women and how it frequently causes problems during pregnancy or affects the health of the baby after birth.
All the birth defects caused by COVID-19 haven’t been exhausted, but doctors say it doesn’t cause miscarriage. However, there have been a small number of reported problems, such as premature birth, in babies born to mothers who tested positive for COVID-19 during pregnancy. Doctors also say that these problems might as well not be related to the mother’s infection.
Researchers are also looking into finding out about the COVID-19 transmission from mother to baby in the womb.
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