It’s been a hot topic for months. Especially now the virus is also spreading in our country. As if you didn't have enough to worry about now that you're pregnant, you also have to turn into a virologist to keep up with the latest news. We will list everything that is important for your pregnancy.
What is the coronavirus?
The coronavirus belongs to the cold virus group. SARS and MERS are also species of coronaviruses. This new coronavirus is officially called SARS-CoV-2. The disease you get from it is called CoVid-19. Because CoVid-19 is new, very little research has been done into it. That's why everything we know about it is subject to reservation. The more research there is, the more certain we are of what this virus does. The Lancet, a medical journal, has published a small study on the coronavirus when you're pregnant.
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What are the common symptoms of the coronavirus?
The symptoms of the coronavirus often resemble a flu or cold. You may suffer from the following symptoms:
- Coughing
- Muscle pain
- Fatigue
- Fever and/or chills
- Shortness of breath/ difficulty breathing
If you have any symptoms, call your doctor. Don't go to the doctors office yourself, because that way you can infect other people.
How do you get the coronavirus?
When someone infected with the virus coughs or sneezes, droplets of mucus and snot come out of the nose, throat or lungs. If you stand near the infected person, you can come into contact with the droplets and thus the virus. Even if someone coughs or sneezes in their hands and then gives you a hand, you can become infected. The drops don't float through the air, they sink down. They can descend on objects that you grab. Depending on the type of surface and its temperature, the virus can survive for several hours to days. The sicker a person is, the more they can spread the virus.
Are you more likely to get the coronavirus if you're pregnant?
When you're pregnant, all kinds of changes take place in your body. Your body works hard to give your baby everything he needs. This means that your body does some things differently than normal. Your immune system works differently during your pregnancy. You may therefore be more susceptible to bacteria and viruses. This also applies to the common flu and colds.
How dangerous is corona when you're pregnant?
Corona has the same progression in pregnant women as in non-pregnant women. However, if you have a chronic disorder or complications in your pregnancy that make you less healthy, you are more susceptible to infection with the virus. If you have corona, you may develop a fever. Fever can be dangerous if you are pregnant. Especially if your body temperature rises above 38.5 degrees Celsius. It can cause premature contractions and it can negatively affect the protein supply to your baby. So it is important to lower the fever as soon as possible. The group of viruses to which the coronavirus belongs can have unpleasant consequences such as kidney failure, respiratory problems, premature births, miscarriages, internal bleeding and reduced growth of your baby in your abdomen. But fortunately at the moment it seems that corona has less unpleasant consequences than its congeners. What a relief!
Can you infect your baby and how dangerous is this?
Little research has been done on vertical transmission. This means that a pregnant woman can transmit the virus to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth or immediately after birth. So far it seems that babies are not infected during pregnancy. Good work, placenta! From mothers who were infected with the virus, breast milk, blood from the umbilical cord and amniotic fluid have been tested for the coronavirus. Fortunately, these tests were negative! If you have the virus and your baby is born, he can be infected because he is close to you. It seems that children become less sick of corona than adults. This is because their immune system is more alert than that of adults and is therefore quicker to counter-attack. Again, if children already have another disease, they will become sicker than if they are completely healthy. So always take your child to the doctor.
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Prevent contamination of yourself and others
Contamination is prevented in the same way as you prevent other colds and flu. Good hygiene is the most important thing.
- Wash your hands regularly with warm water and soap. And don't keep your hands under the tap for just five seconds but at least twenty seconds. Make sure you also wash between your fingers and under your nails.
- Keep at least one to two metres away from other people, especially if they have symptoms. Even if you know someone has been in contact with someone who has corona, stay away from these people!
- Wash items you touch with soap and water.
- Don't give people a hand
- Sneeze and cough in your elbow
- Use paper handkerchiefs, throw them away after using them once and wash your hands after use
- Don't touch your face. That's how you bring the virus to your nose, mouth and tear ducts. These are all entrances for the virus to your body.
