How COVID-19 affects pregnant woman and the child

The more we discover about COVID-19, the more we realise it is a multisystem condition, which means it isn't just a respiratory infection with far-reaching consequences.

Much has been stated about the significance of vaccinated pregnant women; we've seen unvaccinated pregnant women in ICUs, as well as a higher number of stillbirths and early births as a result of receiving the virus. But what about the babies who are fortunate enough to avoid contracting COVID from their mothers? How does it affect them?

By attaching to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, the SARS-CoV-2 virus enters the body through the nasal way and infects lung cells. It can then spread to other regions of the body that have ACE2 receptors, such as the placenta, the organ that joins a pregnant mother and her unborn child.

The placenta's role is to shield the unborn child from illnesses contracted by the mother, yet some pathogens, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), Zika virus, and herpes simplex virus, have managed to sneak beyond this barrier and infect babies, with disastrous results.

It's still unknown if SARS-CoV-2 may cross the placental barrier and whether newborns that test positive for COVID shortly after birth caught it from their mother before or after delivery. However, there is evidence that mothers can pass on COVID antibodies to their unborn babies during pregnancy.

Furthermore, immunisation of pregnant women has been found to result in the synthesis of maternal IgG five days after the first shot. IgG, a key antibody in the fight against COVID, was discovered to cross the placenta and protect the newborn 16 days after the first dose of the vaccination.

Preterm birth, defined as a baby born before 37 weeks of pregnancy, is the most common unfavourable pregnancy outcome among COVID moms. The risk of giving birth at less than 37 weeks was 40 percent greater for moms who were infected at some point during their pregnancy, and the risk of extremely preterm birth – occurring at less than 32 weeks of gestation – was 60 percent higher. Preterm birth risk increased by 160 percent in those with hypertension, diabetes, and/or obesity.

Any sickness that puts a pregnant woman's lungs, immune system, or circulatory system under stress might reduce blood and oxygen supply to the womb, raising the risk of preterm delivery. COVID not only causes respiratory and cardiovascular stress but also triggers an inflammatory, immunological response that can extend throughout the body. This combination can enhance the chances of a COVID-infected pregnant woman going into premature labour.

Premature birth poses a considerable risk to babies, with long-term intellectual and developmental problems being a possibility.

Premature birth has been linked to a higher risk of cerebral palsy in several studies. For newborns born before 32 weeks, the danger is very high. Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a range of lifelong conditions that impact mobility and coordination and are caused by a brain issue that occurs before, during, or shortly after birth.

Preterm babies are more likely to develop autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression, and motor and sensory abnormalities, such as issues with vestibular balance, pain processing, and deafness, according to several studies. All of these things have long-term consequences that continue well into adulthood.

Although it is uncertain if COVID may be passed down from a mother to her unborn child, it is becoming increasingly obvious that COVID raises the chance of preterm delivery and the long-term issues that come with it. We have strong and unequivocal evidence that vaccinating pregnant women against the virus is safe and that the antibodies produced by vaccines may provide some protection to newborn newborns. Getting vaccinated is the safest and most efficient approach to protect yourself and your baby from the consequences of COVID-19.