Citizens Memorial Hospital | Vitality | Winter 2021

citizensmemorial.com 7 COVID-19 shots: Safe during all stages of pregnancy Are you pregnant or planning to be soon? Good news. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it has enough data to confirm that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for pregnant women. What the research says CDC has been keeping track of how the COVID-19 vaccines work in people who are pregnant. They regularly review data from the v-safe COVID-19 Vaccine Pregnancy Registry and other safety monitoring programs. The results show that COVID-19 vaccines are safe, even in the early stages of pregnancy. That’s good news, because COVID-19 is especially risky for pregnant women. They are among those more likely to get severe COVID-19. That means they may need to be in the hospital or need help to breathe. And COVID-19 is linked to preterm birth and other risks to babies as well. Get the facts Many pregnant women have been safely vaccinated already. But some have been waiting for more information. Now you can feel confident that the vaccines are safe during pregnancy. We also now know the answers to some common questions about the vaccines. For instance: Can they affect my ability to get pregnant? There’s no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines affect fertility. Can the shots give me or my baby COVID-19? None of the vaccines contain the virus. This means you cannot catch COVID-19 from your vaccine. Does the vaccine raise the risk of miscarriage? Data collected by CDC show that miscarriage rates are no higher among vaccinated women. Will the vaccine protect my baby from COVID-19? We are not yet sure. But there is evidence that babies born to vaccinated women may gain some immunity from their mothers. Still unsure about getting your COVID-19 shot? Talk to your doctor about your concerns. They can help you understand the risks and benefits. And you can make the right choice for you and your baby. LISTENTO BOARD-CERTIFIED OB-GYN PHYSICIAN SHELLY MEENTS, M.D., WITH CMH OB-GYN CLINIC IN BOLIVAR,TALK ABOUT COVID-19 VACCINATIONS AND PREGNANCY RISK AT youtu.be/wkgAD00JfdA . You’ll get great advice. Did you know that you shouldn’t take very hot baths while pregnant? Prenatal visits provide opportunities to learn about many other important pregnancy do’s and don’ts, as well as all the ways you can keep yourself and your baby safe and healthy. For instance, you can learn about eating healthy foods, exercising, managing stress and gaining just the right amount of pregnancy weight. You’ll get the health screenings you need. Your provider can make sure you get the recommended tests for pregnant women. For instance, you might need blood and urine tests to look for treatable conditions like infections, anemia, pre-eclampsia (potentially dangerous high blood pressure during pregnancy) and gestational diabetes. You’ll learn your due date and hear that baby’s heartbeat! After about 10 weeks, you can listen to your baby’s heartbeat. At around 18 weeks, you may be able to learn from your first ultrasound whether you’re having a girl or a boy, if you want to find out. GO EARLY, GO OFTEN You’ll likely see your provider about once a month at first and then once a week in the last part of your pregnancy. Your provider will give you a schedule of prenatal care visits. It’s important to go to all of them. Sources: March of Dimes; Office on Women’s Health