Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico | Blue for Your Health | Spring 2021

Q Do pregnant women have an increased risk for getting the coronavirus? They don’t appear to be at greater risk for infection, but pregnant women are at an increased risk for severe complications from COVID-19. Q Can a pregnant woman with COVID-19 pass it on to her baby? Researchers have found this to be rare. When babies do get sick, it is thought to occur through close contact with an infected person after birth. Q What might happen after the baby is born? If a woman with COVID-19 gives birth, her newborn should be tested for the virus. If the baby also tests positive, mom and baby can stay together in the hospital. If the baby doesn’t have the virus, mom and her birthing team can discuss whether separation is best. If mom chooses to room-in with her newborn, they should stay 6 feet apart, other than when breastfeeding. Q How will that separation affect breastfeeding? Although the virus may be present in breast milk, it appears to be rare. Women with COVID-19 are recommended to continue to breastfeed. Still, moms who are sick with COVID-19 may want to pump breast milk so that a healthy caregiver can feed it to the baby. Q What happens after mom and baby leave the hospital? A mom with COVID-19 should stay 6 feet from her newborn until she is clear of infection. She can either continue to pump breast milk or feed the baby herself while using a face mask and maintaining good breast hygiene. Health care providers will likely follow up frequently for at least two weeks. Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; March of Dimes; UpToDate It only works if we all do our part: When no one or just a few people are vaccinated, the coronavirus spreads easily and makes a lot of people sick. When enough people are vaccinated, it’s difficult for the virus to spread and fewer people get sick. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services How does herd immunity work? Herd immunity helps protect those who can’t get vaccinated yet, such as: Keep distancing. Mask up. Get vaccinated when it’s your turn. Children People with severe vaccine allergies Coronavirus and pregnancy AND bcbsnm.com/community-centennial 3