Pregnant and Recently Pregnant People
What You Need to Know
To maximize protection from variants and prevent possibly spreading the virus to others, wear a mask indoors in public in areas with a high COVID-19 Community Level. People who are pregnant or have other conditions that could put them at higher risk for severe illness should speak with their healthcare provider about wearing a mask in public indoor spaces at the medium COVID-19 Community Level.
Although the overall risks are low, if you are pregnant or were recently pregnant, you are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 compared to people who are not pregnant. Additionally, if you have COVID-19 during pregnancy, you are at increased risk of complications that can affect your pregnancy and developing baby.
Having certain underlying medical conditions, and other factors, including age, can further increase the risk for getting very sick from COVID-19 during or recently after pregnancy (for at least 42 days following end of pregnancy).
People who are pregnant or recently pregnant and those who live with or visit them should take steps to protect themselves from getting sick with COVID-19.
Increased Risk of Severe Illness
If you are pregnant or were recently pregnant, you are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19 compared to people who are not pregnant. Pregnancy causes changes in the body that could make it easier to get very sick from respiratory viruses like the one that causes COVID-19. These changes in the body can continue after pregnancy.
Severe illness means that a person with COVID-19 may need:
Hospitalization
Admission into an intensive care unit (ICU)
A ventilator or special equipment to help them breathe
People with COVID-19 who become severely ill can die. See why pregnancy is included in the list of underlying medical conditions that increase a person’s risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Certain factors can increase risk
Other factors can further increase the risk for getting very sick from COVID-19 during or recently after pregnancy, such as:
Having certain underlying medical conditions
Being older than 25 years
Living or working in a community with high numbers of COVID-19 cases
Living or working in a community with low levels of COVID-19 vaccination
Working in places where it is difficult or not possible to keep at least 6 feet apart from people who might be sick
Being part of some racial and ethnic minority groups, which have been put at increased risk of getting sick from COVID-19 because of the health inequities they face
Effect on Pregnancy Outcomes
People with COVID-19 during pregnancy are more likely to experience complications that can affect their pregnancy and developing baby compared to people without COVID-19 during pregnancy. For example, COVID-19 during pregnancy increases the risk of delivering a preterm (earlier than 37 weeks) or stillborn infant. People with COVID-19 during pregnancy may also be more likely to have other pregnancy complications.
See the latest data on birth and infant outcomes among pregnant women with COVID-19.