How “vulnerable” are pregnant women? (covid)

[Anniemabel]

Sorry for a covid thread. Is there any published info anyone could point me toward which actually sets out whether pregnant women are actually more vulnerable to covid than non pregnant women?
I’m know that back in March they put pregnant women on the CEV list but it was my understanding then that it wasn’t based on any evidence as such because the virus was so new. Is there any evidence (either way) yet?

I'm 30 weeks and have been told by my midwife I'm at no higher risk of getting it. The only pregnant women who are, are those who have heart conditions.
I'll be shielding as much as I can from 37 weeks though so I have the best chance of having dh with me during my section

I'm so worried about the effects on baby because there isn't any info out there explaining anything.
I feel fine though. Just a cough and cold.
I'll be following this thread.

As far as I was aware we (pregnant women) were never ECV just in the ‘at greater risk category’ Not a higher risk of catching it but higher risk of complications. I believe it is mostly precautionary (although not certain)

My thinking is that later in pregnancy your lungs are more squished, as I’m now finding at 37wks and being breathless easily. This would make battling covid potentially more difficult due to the effect on lungs.

Pregnant women are not at a higher risk of catching it, but are at an increased risk of becoming more unwell if they to get Covid. That's because pregnancy makes our bodies less good at fighting some things off, which is why pregnant women should get the flu jab too even if normally really healthy. I read today that once you are 20 weeks+, your risk of needing ICU is x5 higher than if you are pre-20 weeks. That being said, I know of lots of pregnant women who have had Covid and they are all absolutely fine. It will only be a small minority of pregnant women who do get more seriously unwell with Covid, but still definitely worth taking sensible precautions . Pregnant women are advised not to take public transport etc if possible and to WFH in third trimester if possible.

@Needoutsideopinions2020 where did you get that advise from? I’m in 3rd trimester and haven’t been advised of anything. I work in retail and don’t start maternity leave until week I’m due, haven’t been advised of anything different??

I'm CEV because I'm pregnant but that's due to having a serious heart condition so now have to shield. If you have no other conditions, you will be in the vulnerable category!

Like previous post have said you have the potential to be more ill than the public if you have covid, i know not English but the cdc and one of the medical university hospitals have realised data to show pregnant women are more ill than non pregnant women. I work at a hospital and will b going home at 28 weeks I also know teachers are advise to go home at 28 weeks and anyone else that can not social distance

USA
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/special-populations/pregnancy-data-on-covid-19/what-cdc-is-doing.html

www.health.harvard.edu/blog/pregnant-and-worried-about-covid-19-2020031619212
Uk
www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/covid-19-virus-infection-and-pregnancy/

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk/pregnancy-and-coronavirus/

Pregnant women are not at a higher risk of catching it, but are at an increased risk of becoming more unwell if they to get Covid. That's because pregnancy makes our bodies less good at fighting some things off, which is why pregnant women should get the flu jab too even if normally really healthy

I’m not sure this applies when it comes to covid. It’s partly the immune response that leads people to becoming severely ill with Covid, and I heard a discussion on the radio a while back theorising that pregnant women weren’t becoming severely ill precisely because their immune system is suppressed.
I’ll see if I can find a link.
Appreciate that things change quickly the more we learn about the virus so I’m not sure whether this is still the current position.

All I can say is in the NHS pregnant women working with Covid patients are redeployed at 28 weeks due to maternal deaths from Covid in late stage pregnancy and reducing the risks of complications. I don't think I have seen anything about increased risk of catching it.

This is excellent info:

www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/covid-19-virus-infection-and-pregnancy/

Q. Why are pregnant women in a vulnerable group?
Pregnant women have been included in the list of people at moderate risk (clinically vulnerable) as a precaution. This is because pregnancy in a small proportion of women can alter how your body handles severe viral infections and some viral infections, such as flu, are worse in pregnant women. Amongst pregnant women, the highest risk of becoming severely unwell (should you contract the virus) appears to be for those who are 28 weeks pregnant and beyond. This is something that midwives and obstetricians have known for many years in relation to other similar infections (such as flu) and are used to caring for pregnant women in this situation.

Hi @oneandabean, that's the advice my midwife gave me a few weeks ago at booking in appointment. Advice may vary per region?

@homerroberts I'm not medical so this is only my lay interpretation based on what I've read but have a look at what @nosquirrels has posted from the RCOG because that summarises it much better than I could!

I’m know that back in March they put pregnant women on the CEV list

Not quite. The only pregnant women on the CEV list were those with certain specified cardiac issues.

Those without cardiac conditions were on the CV ('flu jab' group, moderate risk) list. This seems right as many conditions which commonly cause fever are more hazardous duringpregnancy

I'd assume that you're at more risk of pneumonia because the baby makes breathing more difficult than if you're not pregnant, plus generally more at risk of clots and other vascular issues than your not pregnant risk profile - neither of these is "good" with Covid obviously. Obviously clots and breathing problems aren't predictable demographically so it's safer to assume all pregnant women are at higher risk for fear of missing those who "should not be but are".

@Oneandabean it might be worth speaking to HR if you work for a big company. I work for the NHS and my manager has confirmed that from 28 wks I will work from home even though I’m not in a patient facing role and can’t do the majority of my job from home. It’s apparently blanket NHS policy - at least in Scotland.

I’m 28 weeks nhs worker and have been put on special leave until either 36 weeks or baby born

MN isn't the best place to ask this

NHS website
Royal college of midwives website or asking your consultant or midwife
I'm almost 13 weeks and not been told by anyone pregnancy Will Make me more vulnerable

@Moo678 I think it is in England to I work in the private sector in theatres and we are a green site and our policy is at 28 weeks get sent home, how long this will be policy I don't know I'm hoping until most people are vaccinated and cases are no existent

@Moo678 I'm in the NHS in Wales and have also been told I have to work from home from 28 weeks, and if I can't do my job from home I'll be on special leave (so still fully paid). I could do some of my job remotely, except there are no remote working laptops available 🤦🏻‍♀️

I’m quite concerned too. I’m off work this week due to time booked off, but 2 people out of a staff of 25 have tested positive at the weekend.

I half expected a call from work discussing a new risk assessment or something, but have heard nothing.

As pp have said, there is no higher risk of catching it. The evidence about whether pregnant women get more unwell with it has been a bit of an evolving thing - but it seems that if you compare pregnant women WITH Covid to pregnant women WITHOUT Covid (which is the best comparison) then there is a risk of death 20x higher, and a risk of ICU admission 70x higher. The numbers overall are still low though. There doesn’t seem to be such huge effects on babies - not shown to increase risk of stillbirth for example, 3x risk of preterm birth. No long term complications. The data is confusing because a lot of it is incomplete. I’m sorry I don’t have the reference - this was from a recent conference presentation. Bottom line is that it’s definitely worth being more careful because of being pregnant.