"Hi everyone! This is Dr. Stephanie Camaglia Reznick. I'm a board certified internist and one of the medical directors for Virtual Primary Care here at Oscar.
In today's video, I'd like to talk about COVID and pregnancy. First, while we don't have a lot of data, we do know that being pregnant puts you at a higher risk for having complications or a severe course of COVID-19. That said, your overall risk in general of having a severe course of COVID-19 is still relatively small.
Because of your increased risk, we do recommend that you take all the standard precautions very seriously. I've talked about these a lot in past videos but just to remind you they include:
Wear a mask when out in public.
Maintain social distancing meaning staying at least six feet away from others not part of your household.
If you use hand sanitizer, make sure it contains at least 60 percent of alcohol.
Stay away from anyone who is ill and may have COVID-19.
Staying healthy while pregnant
Even though the pandemic puts a little bit of a different perspective on your pregnancy, it's important not to forget that you need to take care of yourself.
Make sure to go to all of your obstetrics appointments.
Receive all the recommended testing.
Don't hesitate to call your provider’s office if you have any concerns.
If you think you're having a medical emergency, don't delay getting care because of the pandemic. It's really important for you to get emergency care as soon as possible so you can have the best possible outcome depending upon what's going on.
Routine vaccinations
The other thing to remember are vaccines. They're important in pregnancy. You should get your flu shot. It's recommended that pregnant women get a Tdap which is tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis or whooping cough vaccination during your pregnancy. This helps to boost the immunity to the baby so they are protected a bit against whooping cough.
In general when pregnant, it's always important to take care of yourself and part of that means making sure you have a culturally competent physician or other health care provider who can take care of you and understands your specific concerns and needs.
Make sure you write down any questions you have before you go to an appointment so you don't forget what they were.
Based on the office's COVID restrictions, you're allowed to bring in a guest. It's recommended that you do bring someone to your appointments — it's a good source of support, helps you not forget anything and it can be kind of fun to share these special moments such as seeing the baby on the ultrasound or hearing their heart beat on the doppler.
Don't forget to take birthing classes. There's a lot of them available online so you don't even have to go out for them.
When you're stressed out, make sure you have a friend or family member that you can confide in. There are also support groups online especially for moms during the pandemic.
Lastly, make sure you rest. Your body's making a baby and that takes a lot of energy. Be kind to yourself."
Updated February 9, 2021
*Virtual providers like Dr. Reznick are employed by Oscar Medical Group and are not employed by Oscar Health, Inc.
This content does not constitute medical advice and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, including diagnosis or treatment. Contact your physician with any questions you may have regarding COVID-19 or your personal health. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, dial 911 for immediate assistance.
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