covid and pregnancy (28 weeks)?

Pregnancy and coronavirus (COVID-19)

If you're pregnant, you may be unsure how coronavirus (COVID-19) could affect you, your baby and your pregnancy care.

It's important to tell your midwife or maternity team if you have symptoms of COVID-19. You can ask them for help with any other concerns as you usually would.
Pregnancy and your risk

You're at higher risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 if you're pregnant. If you get COVID-19 late in your pregnancy, your baby could also be at risk.

It's strongly recommended that you get vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect you and your baby.

It's also important to follow advice to stop the spread of COVID-19 throughout your pregnancy. Especially when you're more than 28 weeks pregnant (in your 3rd trimester).

If you're from an ethnic minority group, evidence suggests you're more likely to be admitted to hospital if you get COVID-19. Maternity teams are taking extra steps to keep you safe if you're higher risk.

It may be possible for you to pass COVID-19 to your baby before they're born. But when this has happened, the babies have got better.

There's no evidence COVID-19 causes miscarriage or affects how your baby develops in pregnancy.
What to do if you're pregnant

As soon as you find out you're pregnant speak to a GP or midwife.

They'll support you and give you all the information you need. They'll also make sure you receive safe and personal maternity care.

If you're pregnant, it's important to follow advice about how to avoid catching and spreading COVID-19, such as washing your hands regularly.

If you're more than 28 weeks pregnant it’s especially important to follow this advice.

You still need to go to all of your pregnancy (antenatal) scans and appointments unless you're told not to.
Information:
COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy

It's strongly recommended that you get vaccinated against COVID-19 if you're pregnant.

It's preferable for you to have the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccine. This is because they've been more widely used during pregnancy in other countries and no safety concerns have been identified.

Find out more about pregnancy and COVID-19 vaccination
Appointments and scans

You'll still have regular appointments and scans while you're pregnant. But there may be some changes.

You may find that:

some midwife appointments are online, by phone or by video call
you may be asked to wear a mask or gown when you're in a hospital or clinic
you may be asked to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test
some appointments may be cancelled or rescheduled – your appointment will be rescheduled or you'll be able to rebook

This is to help keep everyone safe and stop the spread of COVID-19.

If you're unsure if you can bring your partner to your appointment, ask your midwife or maternity team.
Important

If you're well, it's really important you go to all your appointments and scans for the health of you and your baby.

Hospitals and clinics are making sure it's safe for you to go.
Non-urgent advice: Call your midwife or maternity team if:

you've missed an appointment and need to book another one
you have any questions about your care or appointments
you do not know when your next appointment is
you have symptoms of COVID-19

If you get symptoms of COVID-19

If you get any symptoms of COVID-19:

Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or feel unwell – take extra care to avoid close contact with anyone who is at higher risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19.
Speak to your midwife or maternity team – they will advise you what to do. You may need to rebook some of your pregnancy appointments or have them online, by phone or as a video consultation.

You can go back to your normal activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature.

Find out more about what to do if you have COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19
Important

If you're worried about your symptoms or not sure what to do, go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.
Information:
If you have COVID-19 and use a pulse oximeter

If you have COVID-19, your GP, midwife or maternity team may ask you to monitor your oxygen levels at home using a pulse oximeter.

If your blood oxygen level:

is going down, contact your GP, midwife or maternity team
is 94 or below, contact your hospital immediately or call 999

To read more about pulse oximeters, visit how to look after yourself at home if you have COVID-19.
If you have any other symptoms

If you have any other symptoms, or anything else you're worried about, you should still get medical help as you usually would.

You can still have GP appointments or speak to your midwife or maternity team if you have any questions.
Urgent advice: Call your midwife or maternity team immediately if:

your baby is moving less than usual
you cannot feel your baby moving
there is a change to your baby's usual pattern of movements
you have any bleeding from your vagina
you're feeling very anxious or worried
you have a headache that does not go away
you get shortness of breath when resting or lying down
you cannot cope with your COVID-19 symptoms at home
your temperature is raised
you have severe tiredness
you feel unsafe at any time

Do not wait until the next day or your next appointment – call immediately, even if it's the middle of the night.

If you do not have a midwife or maternity team call a GP or go to 111.nhs.uk. Call 111 if you cannot get help online.
Immediate action required: Call 999 if:

you feel very unwell or think there's something seriously wrong
you have severe chest pain
you cough up blood
you feel cold and sweaty, with pale or blotchy skin
you collapse or faint
you have a rash that looks like small bruises or bleeding under the skin and does not fade when you roll a glass over it
you feel agitated, confused or very drowsy
you've stopped peeing or are peeing much less than usual
you're so breathless that you're unable to say short sentences when resting
your breathing has got suddenly worse

Labour and birth

It's really important you have a midwife with you when you give birth to keep you and your baby safe.

If you and your baby are well, you may be able to give birth at home, in a midwifery-led unit or in a birth centre.

If you've had any complications during your pregnancy you may be advised to give birth in a unit led by a doctor (obstetrician).

There may also be some changes to what usually happens where you plan to give birth, because of COVID-19.

Speak to your midwife or maternity team for more information.

You can also read more about signs that labour has begun.
Birth partners

Having a birth partner is important for your safety and wellbeing during labour and birth.

You'll be able to have a birth partner during labour and the birth if they do not have symptoms of COVID-19. But there may be limits on how long they can stay after the birth.

If your birth partner has symptoms or has been asked to self-isolate, they may not be able to come with you. You might want to have a backup birth partner just in case.
If you have COVID-19 and go into labour

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and go into labour, you'll be advised to give birth in a unit led by a doctor (obstetrician). This is so the team can look after you and your baby more closely.

You'll be cared for in an area within the maternity unit that's just for pregnant women and people with COVID-19.

You may see the midwives and maternity team wearing aprons, masks or eye protection. These things are to keep you, your baby and the staff caring for you safe, and to stop the spread of infection.

Your maternity team has been advised on how to keep you and your baby safe. They will make sure you get the best care and respect your birth choices as closely as possible.
After the birth

After your baby is born, you should be able to have skin-to-skin contact unless your baby is unwell and needs care in the neonatal unit.

You'll also be encouraged to breastfeed. There's no evidence COVID-19 can pass on to your baby in breast milk, so the benefits of breastfeeding and the protection it offers outweigh any risks.

As well as enjoying this time with your newborn baby, it’s important to be aware of any signs they might be unwell. At the moment it can be hard to know what to do. But trust your instincts and get medical help if you think your baby needs it.

For example, it’s common for babies to get newborn jaundice. Jaundice is usually harmless, but it’s important to be able to recognise the symptoms and to get medical help if your baby has them.
If you have any questions or need help

If you have any questions or concerns at any time, speak to your midwife or maternity team.

You can also find answers to commonly asked questions about COVID-19 and pregnancy from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology.