Worried about effect of covid on baby's development - any experience out there?

[Blue3Trees]

I've gone down a bit of an anxiety rabbit hole and I am after some reassurance.
I've got covid in the 12th week of pregnancy. I know I shouldn't do this but I ended up reading some studies on the effect of covid and infection on fetal development and have massively panicked myself. There's various studies that basically talk about potential issues with brain development caused by maternal infection and inflammation, and this combined with the frequently repeated line that the first trimester is crucial for baby development has really freaked me out. There's other studies that talk about increased risk of pre-term birth and miscarriage. I feel like the pregnancy is doomed 😭. So I guess I am looking for some reassurance, has anyone else had covid or been quite ill with influenza, really bad flu or another viral infection around the 12th week of pregnancy and gone on to have a healthy baby? Thank you in advance !

Hi OP. Not sure if this offers much. I got covid for the first time when I was 8 weeks pregnant. I had fever for a day but after that it broke. From what I know, breaking the fever is the important part.

I am 25 weeks now and baby seems to be doing well and no anomoly detected in my scan or anything.

I did ring the labour ward to let them know I had covid as they wanted to know my age, BMI and vaccine status to see if they would give blood thinner injections but the determined I didn't need them. I was told the last trimester is where it can lead to early labour but they don't seem to have that worry in first trimester.

I have just had it in week 11-12. My 12 week scan was all good and healthy and I'm feeling lots better. As PP said I think the fever is the issue and if you can keep that down everything should be ok. Midwife just said to me lots of women have flu etc whilst pregnant but the baby is well protected and rest and hydration is the key thing.

Have you had your 12 week scan yet?

I had covid at 13/14 weeks pregnant and currently 31 weeks with a healthy baby :)

I have three friends who had covid in different stages of pregnancy, all three are healthy babies ranging from 1-6 months old x

I had it at 17 weeks (now 32) and the midwife advised that for the baby it's no different to when we get a normal cold or virus and that they're very well protected in there

I’m 11 weeks and currently have Covid so I’ve also done the panicked reading this week!

Bear in mind most of the studies on the effects of Covid on pregnant women and their babies will involve women who were sick enough to need hospital admission or even intensive care. It’s not really looking at women who were ill for a few days at home.
Most effects on pre term labour come from getting really unwell with Covid in the third trimester, not at the first/start of second.

Thanks for all the responses, I feel a bit calmer about it now hearing that other people have had it and all has been ok. I guess I'm also worried about any long term effects on the baby's development but there'll probably be no way to ever know. I don't even have a date yet for my first scan, they seem to be quite slow in my area, fingers crossed all is ok.

A little bit further along but I was 17 weeks pregnant when I had covid. It was very mild for me. Baby is now nearly 6 months and is a healthy boy (not been unwell with anything as of yet). He is meeting his milestones and very happy. I had a very easy and quick birth, 8 days early.

Hello, really hope you're okay and not feeling too rough with it! This is my first baby and I caught it just after my 12 week scan, triple jabbed but ended up being off work for a couple of weeks because I had it really badly. Was v anxious about baby like you and have been for a few private scans in addition to the 20 week scan - no abnormalities or anything have been picked up on any of these. I'm 30+3 today and she's currently kicking away as I'm typing this x

Ooh also the midwives noted I'd had covid and were going to refer me for growth scans, but guidance changed and because I hadn't been hospitalised with covid they weren't needed (and it turns out she was measuring off the fundal height scale at 28 week appointment anyway!) x

I had covid in March 2020 when I was about 6 weeks pregnant before an vaccines etc. Pregnancy and birth all normal and
fine. 20 month old boy has been early for every miles stone, crawling and climbing ladders at 7 months, walking at 11, more than 100 words at 19 months.

There is some evidence that getting covid in your 3rd trimester can lead to early births but I’ve not seen anything else compelling. Please try not to worry.