Being pregnant during the coronavirus pandemic

TOLEDO, Ohio. — It’s usually one of the happiest times in a woman’s life.

“It’s incredible,” said New York OBGY Dr. Jimmy Belotte. “I can’t find any part of human life that is more joyful than giving birth.”

But, with the coronavirus pandemic happening, it’s safe to say that outlook, may have changed. Dr. Belotte works at a hospital that’s currently treating 6 different pregnant women who have tested positive for the virus.

“We consider pregnant women an at-risk group,” he said. “We need to be more vigilant and gather information to figure out exactly how to protect.”

Since coronavirus is so new, doctors have come to that conclusion through research they’ve done on other viruses. One hypothesis that some may be most concerned with is the chances that a pregnant mother has when it comes to spreading the virus to her baby. Luckily, Dr. Belotte believes the chances are extremely low.

So what should a pregnant woman, or recently new mother do to protect herself and her baby? Dr. Belotte says constantly wash your hands, keep your baby indoors as much as possible. Lastly, if you’re breastfeeding and you believe you have been exposed to the virus, be sure to sanitize everything.