Pregnancy and coronavirus (COVID-19)

If you're pregnant, you may be unsure how coronavirus (COVID-19) could affect you, your baby and your pregnancy care.

It's important to tell your midwife or maternity team if you have symptoms of COVID-19. You can ask them for help with any other concerns as you usually would.

Pregnancy and your risk

If you’re pregnant your chance of getting COVID-19 is not higher than anyone else and it’s very unlikely you’ll get seriously ill with it.

Pregnant women are in the moderate risk (clinically vulnerable) group as a precaution. This is because you can sometimes be more at risk from viruses like flu if you're pregnant.

It's not clear if this happens with COVID-19. But because it's a new virus, it's safer to include pregnant women in the moderate risk group.

Although it's very rare for pregnant women to become seriously ill if they get COVID-19, it may be more likely later in pregnancy. If this happens, there's a small chance your baby may be born early or you may be advised to give birth earlier than your due date.

While the chances of having a stillbirth are low, there is some emerging evidence that the risk may be higher if you have COVID-19 at the time of birth.

It's important to follow advice to stop the spread of COVID-19 throughout your pregnancy. Especially when you're more than 28 weeks pregnant (in your 3rd trimester). You can also have the COVID-19 vaccine.

If you're from an ethnic minority group, evidence suggests you're more likely to be admitted to hospital if you get COVID-19. Maternity teams are taking extra steps to keep you safe if you're higher risk.

It may be possible for you to pass COVID-19 to your baby before they're born. But when this has happened, the babies have got better.

There's no evidence COVID-19 causes miscarriage or affects how your baby develops in pregnancy.

What to do if you're pregnant

As soon as you find out you're pregnant speak to a GP or midwife.

They'll support you and give you all the information you need. They'll also make sure you receive safe and personal maternity care.

If you're pregnant, it's important to follow advice about how to avoid catching and spreading COVID-19, such as washing your hands regularly.

If you're more than 28 weeks pregnant it’s especially important to follow this advice.

You still need to go to all of your pregnancy (antenatal) scans and appointments unless you're told not to.

Appointments and scans

You'll still have regular appointments and scans while you're pregnant. But there may be some changes.

You may find that:

• some midwife appointments are online, by phone or by video call
• you may be asked to wear a mask or gown when you're in a hospital or clinic
• you may be asked to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test
• some appointments may be cancelled or rescheduled – your appointment will be rescheduled or you'll be able to rebook

This is to help keep everyone safe and stop the spread of COVID-19.

If you're unsure if you can bring your partner to your appointment, ask your midwife or maternity team.

If you get symptoms of COVID-19

If you get any symptoms of COVID-19 (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste):

1. Stay at home (self-isolate) – you and anyone you live with should not leave your home or have visitors. Anyone you've been in close contact with since your symptoms started or during the 48 hours before they started should also self-isolate.
2. Book a test – get a PCR test (test that is sent to a lab) to check if you have COVID-19 as soon as possible. Anyone you live with should also get a test if they have symptoms.
3. Speak to your midwife or maternity team – they will advise you what to do. You may need to rebook some of your pregnancy appointments or have them online, by phone or as a video consultation.

If you have any other symptoms

If you have any other symptoms, or anything else you're worried about, you should still get medical help as you usually would.

You can still have GP appointments or speak to your midwife or maternity team if you have any questions.

Labour and birth

It's really important you have a midwife with you when you give birth to keep you and your baby safe.

If you and your baby are well, you may be able to give birth at home, in a midwifery-led unit or in a birth centre.

If you've had any complications during your pregnancy you may be advised to give birth in a unit led by a doctor (obstetrician).

There may also be some changes to what usually happens where you plan to give birth, because of COVID-19.

Speak to your midwife or maternity team for more information.

You can also read more about signs that labour has begun.

Birth partners

Having a birth partner is important for your safety and wellbeing during labour and birth.

You'll be able to have a birth partner during labour and the birth if they do not have symptoms of COVID-19. But there may be limits on how long they can stay after the birth.

If your birth partner has symptoms or has been asked to self-isolate, they may not be able to come with you. You might want to have a backup birth partner just in case.

If you have COVID-19 and go into labour

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and go into labour, you'll be advised to give birth in a unit led by a doctor (obstetrician). This is so the team can look after you and your baby more closely.

You'll be cared for in an area within the maternity unit that's just for pregnant women and people with COVID-19.

You may see the midwives and maternity team wearing aprons, masks or eye protection. These things are to keep you, your baby and the staff caring for you safe, and to stop the spread of infection.

Having COVID-19 should not have any impact on whether you have a vaginal or caesarean birth.

Your maternity team has been advised on how to keep you and your baby safe. They will make sure you get the best care and respect your birth choices as closely as possible.

After the birth

After your baby is born, you should be able to have skin-to-skin contact unless your baby is unwell and needs care in the neonatal unit.

You'll also be encouraged to breastfeed. There's no evidence COVID-19 can pass on to your baby in breast milk, so the benefits of breastfeeding and the protection it offers outweigh any risks.

As well as enjoying this time with your newborn baby, it’s important to be aware of any signs they might be unwell. At the moment it can be hard to know what to do. But trust your instincts and get medical help if you think your baby needs it.

For example, it’s common for babies to get newborn jaundice. Jaundice is usually harmless, but it’s important to be able to recognise the symptoms and to get medical help if your baby has them.

If you have any questions or need help

If you have any questions or concerns at any time, speak to your midwife or maternity team.

You can call the NHS Volunteer Responders on 0808 196 3646. They can help with things like:

• doing shopping
• picking up prescriptions
• going to appointments or hospital

You can also find answers to commonly asked questions about COVID-19 and pregnancy from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology.

More information and resources

• how to look after yourself at home if you have COVID-19
• NHS England: planning your birth (PDF, 823kb)
• NHS England: looking after yourself and your baby in pregnancy (PDF, 653kb)
• NHS England: parent information for newborn babies (PDF, 794kb)

If you need information or support in a different language you can read translated versions of pregnancy leaflets from NHS England.