COVID-19 Can Double the Risk of Serious Pregnancy Complications, Studies Show

As COVID-19 rages into its third year, the medical community is still figuring out how the virus impacts different groups of people. Two recent studies help answer that question. The research provides insight into the impact of COVID-19 on pregnant people, as well as the risk of passing the virus on to a newborn baby.

“We found that pregnant patients who tested positive for COVID-19 had more than double the risk of poor outcomes than patients who did not test positive for COVID-19” explains Assiamira Ferrara, MD, PhD, associate director, Kaiser Permanente Division of Research. Dr. Ferrara is the first and leading author of the study focused on pregnancy, which was published in JAMA Internal Medicine. “Poor outcomes included preterm birth, venous thromboembolism (blood clot), and severe maternal morbidity,” she adds.

While the news is sobering for pregnant parents, the findings of another study are more optimistic regarding newborn babies. Published in The BMJ, a medical trade journal, this study found that there is little risk of an expecting mom who has COVID-19 passing the illness on to her infant.

Both studies provide greater insight into the constant-changing coronavirus and its lingering effects. The findings increase pregnant patients’ awareness of the dangers of COVID-19, provide hope that the virus won’t be passed on to their babies, and most importantly, shine a spotlight on the importance of lessening the risk of contracting COVID-19 in the first place.

What the Studies Say

The study that looks at the effect of COVID-19 on pregnancy examined data from over 43,000 expecting patients at Kaiser Permanente in Northern California. The parents in the study delivered their babies between March 2020 and March 2021. Researchers followed participants through their pregnancies, examining links between perinatal complications and coronavirus infection.

“The study found twice the risk for preterm birth for those testing positive for coronavirus. These patients were more likely to have a medically indicated preterm birth than a spontaneous one; risk was elevated for both types of preterm birth and during the early, middle, and late terms of the pregnancy,” Dr. Ferrara notes.

“We found that patients who tested positive for coronavirus infection were more likely to be younger, Hispanic, have had multiple babies, had obesity, or lived in a neighborhood with high economic deprivation,” states Dr. Ferrara. Black, Asian, and Pacific Islander parents and those with pre-gestational diabetes were most likely to be hospitalized with the virus during pregnancy.

Another study looked at what happens after a person gives birth and the impact on the baby when the parent contracted COVID-19. Researchers reviewed data from almost 500 studies conducted between 2019 and 2021. They found that less than 2% of the babies born to over 14,000 moms diagnosed with COVID-19 tested positive for having the virus.

The low risk of viral transmission is good news for parents and babies alike. Studies show a parent's placenta may help provide protection from the virus spreading to a newborn.

“Thankfully, babies and kids seem to have been protected from developing severe disease from COVID-19. It seemed to have a strong predilection to affect the elderly, and as you get younger and younger the disease seems to be much milder,” though this is not always the case, states Fady Youssef, MD, a board-certified pulmonologist, internist, and critical care specialist at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center.

Why the Findings Matter

For the general population, COVID-19 symptoms can range from mild with a runny nose to severe with difficulty breathing and loss of smell. For someone who is pregnant, the symptoms can increase in severity.

“In addition to preterm birth and the associated neonatal issues, and potentially long-term developmental issues from prematurity, pregnant patients with COVID-19 were more likely to have a life-threatening heart or lung problem, or complication from pregnancy, such as eclampsia,” explains Lauren Carlos, MD, a maternal-fetal medicine physician at Northwestern Medicine Regional Medical Group.

Pregnant patients are typically younger in age and are expected to have less severe reactions to having COVID-19. But research shows that hormonal changes to a woman's body during pregnancy can impact her respiratory and immune systems, making her more susceptible to coronavirus infection.

Struggling with sickness from COVID-19 while trying to keep your unborn baby healthy can create a level of stress for any parent. Wondering if your sickness, your symptoms, and the physical stress on your body will affect your baby, is a lot to carry. But research showing such a small risk of infection to babies can help put parents at ease.

Protecting Yourself and Your Baby

Eating a well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, taking prenatal vitamins, and attending scheduled healthcare visits are critical elements of keeping the expecting parent healthy during pregnancy. A strong immune system and general good health are important components of protection against COVID-19. Medical intervention is also key. The CDC notes that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for parents who are expecting.

“The most important thing is to get vaccinated. It helps the mom, but also, as we know, the mom helps the baby with immunity for the first few months of their life. So, the mom getting vaccinated will confer some protection for the baby as well,” says Dr. Youssef.

A pregnant parent’s health is important because her health has an impact on two. There may be little chance of her baby becoming severely ill because of the virus, but experts say it’s critical not to take unnecessary chances.

“Avoiding the baby getting the virus isn’t the only goal. The goal should be a healthy mom and a healthy baby,” Dr. Carlos concludes.