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Frequently Asked Questions About Pregnancy and COVID-19

Below are the answers to a few frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and pregnancy. 

During pregnancy

At the hospital for delivery

Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and the COVID-19 Vaccine

See the safety precautions in place when you arrive to deliver your baby.

MyChart and virtual visits can add convenience and easy access to your provider.

Ways to involve your partner and family in prenatal care and delivery.

COVID-19 has changed the childbirth experience.

Vaccine Q&A - On Pregnancy, Fertility and Breastfeeding

The COVID-19 vaccine and fertility

Getting the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy

Please note: While these videos contain helpful information for individuals who want more information about pregnancy and delivery during the COVD-19 pandemic, the most up-to-date information on our current visitor policy has details on who may accompany pregnant patients to appointments and to the hospital for delivery.

Should I isolate myself while I am pregnant?

Follow the standard guidelines currently recommended by the CDC for social distancing and proper hand hygiene and stay home if possible. If you must go out, wear personal protective gear such as a mask and gloves. It’s okay to go outdoors for gentle exercise, walking, etc., as long as social distancing is practiced.

Should I delay or postpone my prenatal visits in order to avoid the doctor’s office or hospital setting?

Talk to your physician or midwife about your concerns. Whenever possible, Henry Ford is encouraging the use of tele-health options for appointments, including video visits like those used in our virtual prenatal care program.

Who can come to my prenatal visits with me?

In our outpatient medical centers, in accordance with our updated visitor restrictions, pregnant patients may have a spouse or partner attend their prenatal, ultrasound and NST appointments.

What if I am pregnant and have tested positive for coronavirus?

For pregnant women who have tested positive for COVID-19 or who are exhibiting coronavirus symptoms, most won't need to go to the hospital or require any special treatment. Although therapies for positive patients vary on a case-by-case basis, many patients manage at home by using Tylenol in moderation, resting and drinking lots of fluids. Be sure you are in communication with your primary healthcare provider.

Is it safe for me to deliver my baby at a Henry Ford hospital?

Henry Ford Health hospitals are well-equipped to care for you and your baby. Our staff is following local, state, and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines and recommendations regarding caring for patients requiring obstetrical care.

Right now, COVID-19 appears to infect infants and children much less than the elderly, people with chronic medical conditions, and weakened immune systems. For more information, talk to your OB doctor about your concerns and options.

Who can stay with me for the baby’s birth?

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, we have to restrict visitors to keep you and everyone in the hospital safe. Currently, most of our system hospitals are allowing two people to stay with you during the birthing experience. Lear more about the specifics of this policy here.

What precautions will the Labor & Delivery staff take to help ensure that me and my baby are not exposed to other patients who may have coronavirus?

All hospital staff, including those within our Birthing Centers, follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control for caring for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 positive patients. This includes the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (masks, shields, gloves, gowns, etc.) and corresponding hygiene, disinfection and sterilization guidelines. Patients with COVID-19 are isolated in private rooms, and staff follow the appropriate standards designed to prevent the spread of infection.

Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and the COVID-19 Vaccine

Should pregnant and breastfeeding women get the COVID-19 vaccine? As of now, the answer depends on the specific patient and their risk factors. The vaccine is so new, there is no research on pregnant or breastfeeding women who have had the vaccine, as they were not included as participants during the clinical trials.

Because pregnant women are at a higher risk of becoming ill from COVID-19, it is important to discuss the vaccine with your provider, once it becomes more widely available to the general population.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggests the following considerations for vaccination of pregnant women:

  • The level of COVID-19 community transmission
  • Her personal risk of contracting COVID-19, (by occupation or other activities)
  • The risks of COVID-19 to her and potential risks to the fetus
  • The efficacy of the vaccine
  • The known side effects of the vaccine
  • The lack of data about the vaccine during pregnancy

In addition, ACOG (the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) recommends that COVID-19 vaccines should be made available to both pregnant and breastfeeding women who meet the criteria for vaccination. Since the earliest does are prioritized for targeted groups, such as front line health care workers and first responders, pregnant and breastfeeding women who are among these groups will have access to the vaccine. Again, these women are encouraged to evaluate the considerations noted above, and/or to connect with their health care providers for discussion.

Read more about ACOG’s guidance on the vaccine here.

Another medical professional organization that supports the clinical practice of maternal-fetal medicine, SMFM (Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine) supports giving pregnant and breastfeeding women access to the COVID-19 vaccine, also recommending that women have discussion about potential benefits and unknown risks together their with healthcare providers regarding the vaccine. See more about SMFM’s opinion of the vaccine for this population here.

  • Stay up to date on Vaccine-FAQs, including frequently asked questions about it's safety related to pregnancy and fertility. Learn more
  • Maternal and fetal medicine specialist Dr. Gregory Goyert answers questions about pregnancy during COVID-19. Learn more
  • Pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic. An OB/GYN explains how women’s health providers are adjusting how they deliver care. Read blog post
  • Will Getting The COVID-19 Vaccine Affect My Fertility? Read blog post
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