If you are pregnant, it is critical that you understand how this COVID-19 strain might affect you and how to protect yourself
Throughout the epidemic, public health experts have strongly encouraged pregnant women and other persons at high risk to take special care to prevent getting COVID-19. However, the sudden development of the Omicron variety — which many characterize as "moderate" — has left many people wondering what it implies if you're pregnant.
What is the impact of the Omicron variation on pregnant women? Should you continue to protect yourself from COVID-19, or is it no longer a hazard to you and your baby?
Experts emphasize the need of remaining vigilant. "It's quite aggravating that Omicron has being marketed as a milder variety across the world," says Melissa Simon, M.D., an OB/GYN at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. "There are still significant diseases and fatalities happening as a result of Omicron, particularly in more sensitive groups, including pregnant women."
Here's all you need to know about the Omicron variation and how it affects pregnant women.
What symptoms do pregnant women experience when they have the Omicron variant?
It's vital to note that the Omicron version of COVID-19 is still a very young strain. The World Health Organization (WHO) just discovered Omicron as a potentially dangerous variation in late November, before it quickly spread throughout the world. It has found and continues to monitor many subvariants of the Omicron family, called B.1.1.529, BA.1, BA.2, and BA.3.
As a result, scientists continue to discover more about Omicron and how it affects humans, especially pregnant women.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now maintains that the following are the primary symptoms of COVID-19:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
However, another CDC paper published in mid-December reveals somewhat different symptoms for COVID patients caused by the Omicron type. This investigation, which looked at a relatively limited number of instances, discovered that participants typically exhibited the following symptoms:
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Congestion
- Runny nose
These symptoms have been seen in the general population, and specialists believe they may also apply to pregnant women. "At the moment, there is no evidence that presenting symptoms differ between pregnant and non-pregnant people," says Kjersti Aagaard, M.D., Ph.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas.
Michael Cackovic, M.D., a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, concurs. "With Delta, we saw an immediate beginning of shortness of breath or people saying, 'I can't breathe,'" he adds. "The symptoms of Omicron are similar to those of other groups: cough, congestion, sore throat, headache, and muscular problems."
Is the Omicron variation associated with more severe illness in pregnant women?
It can, and experts believe there are several reasons for this. "Because pregnant women have a component of immunosuppression that permits them to bear what equates to a kid that is one-half genetically different from themselves," Dr. Cackovic explains, "any disease has a potentially more hazardous effect on the pregnant woman." "Pregnancy also entails the danger of preterm delivery, and we are finding extremely high incidence of COVID in general."
It's difficult to predict whether this will happen with the Omicron variety, he adds, adding that "additional study is needed in this area."
"Regardless of the variation, pregnant women have a greater risk than non-pregnant women of being admitted to the hospital with COVID symptoms and requiring transfer to the intensive care unit," Dr. Simon explains.
According to experts, vaccination status is also important when it comes to the severity of the condition. According to a recent Nature Medicine research from Scotland, 98 percent of pregnant patients hospitalized to the ICU for critical care owing to COVID-19 were unvaccinated.
The COVID-19 vaccination has also been demonstrated in studies to be safe during pregnancy, with no relation to premature deliveries or kids with lower birth weights.
According to Dr. Simon, it is quite disturbing that many pregnant women have not received the COVID-19 vaccination for this very reason.
"We have a vaccine that is considered very safe in pregnancy, so COVID is a preventable disease," she says. "Anyone who is pregnant should get the vaccine or booster if they are eligible."
How may pregnant women safeguard themselves against the Omicron variant?
One of the most important things, according to specialists, is to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and to have your booster injection when you're eligible. The COVID vaccination is recommended by major medical organizations such as the CDC, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine for women who are planning to become pregnant, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
"It has an established safety profile in all sections of the reproductive life cycle and is our strongest weapon for preventing the disease's severe sequelae," Dr. Cackovic explains. "In addition, the booster provides the best protection against the Omicron variety for Mom, baby, and family."
Dr. Aagaard suggests that other members of your household who are eligible, such as your partner if you have one and other children in the house, get vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect both you and your baby. "It's critical," she says.
Dr. Simon emphasizes the need of following CDC recommendations and wearing a suitable, fitting mask when out in public, especially in crowds and indoor places. "Don't relax your guard," she urges.
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