Throughout the pandemic, there have been several questions about how COVID and the vaccine may affect pregnant women. Now there is a new cause of concern for expectant mothers. The Delta variant causes an increased risk of stillbirths, according to the CDC.
Two new studies show that pregnant women who contract the Delta variant are at an increased risk of stillbirths or dying at birth, which is increasingly concerning because doctors across the nation have seen an unprecedented rise in pregnant women that are critically ill with COVID-19.
“We are seeing loads of pregnancy complications from COVID-19 infection,” Dr. Ellie Ragsdale, director of fetal intervention at UH Cleveland Medical Center says.
Among the complications are premature deliveries, unusually high blood pressure in the expecting mothers, and stillbirths.
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Stillbirths on the rise
After analyzing the outcomes of over one million pregnancies between March 2020 to September 2021, one study found that stillbirth rates were lower before the pandemic, however, the percentage did slightly jump for expectant mothers that didn’t contract COVID.
The percentage jumped from 0.59% to 0.64% among women who never contracted COVID, the study notes. Meanwhile, the rates rose to 0.98% among expectant mothers who contracted COVID, according to the CDC. The rates for expectant mothers with COVID rose to an alarming 2.7% once the Delta variant emerged.
“Although stillbirth was a rare outcome overall,” the study authors wrote, documented COVID diagnosis was associated with a marked increase in the risk for stillbirth, “with a stronger association during the period of Delta variant predominance.”
Obstetricians also pointed out notable differences in how much oxygen fetuses are able to absorb if an expectant mother is
infected. Women who have COVID tend to have more difficulty getting oxygen-rich blood to their fetuses.
“We’re seeing areas of the placenta that are oxygen-deprived,” Dr. Ragsdale adds. “That’s the baby’s source of oxygen and survival in pregnancy.”
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Are vaccinations safe for pregnant women?
Whether or not vaccines are safe for pregnant women has understandably been a concern since the vaccines officially began rolling out.
By the time the Delta variant surged, only about one-third of pregnant women had vaccinations.
Although the CDC is continuing to “monitor, analyze, and disseminate” information from people that have been vaccinated during all trimesters of pregnancy to better understand the effects it may have on pregnancy and babies, there is currently no evidence that has shown safety concerns for babies born to people who were vaccinated against COVID-19 during pregnancy. It is also unlikely that the vaccine will cause long-term effects, according to the CDC.
“We have evidence to show there is no increased risk of miscarriage or poor pregnancy outcomes from the vaccine,” Dr. Zsakeba Henderson, deputy chief medical and health officer for the March of Dimes says. “All evidence points to the safety of this vaccine.”
The CDC recommends that pregnant women get vaccinated at any point during their pregnancy and stay up to date with their COVID-19 shots, including getting a booster shot.
As expected, the virus is deadlier to mothers who have underlined health issues, so that is yet another reason to consider getting vaccinated.
If you are pregnant, discuss the COVID-19 vaccination with your healthcare professional. This conversation isn’t required, but it might be helpful if you are concerned about how the vaccine may affect you and your unborn child. You can receive a COVID-19 vaccine, including a booster shot, without any additional documentation from your healthcare professional.
