Pregnancy and Newborn Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The pandemic has impacted every area of life, including the considerations and concerns that new mothers have about bringing their babies into the world. Many questions surround this special and critical time in a new mother and baby’s life.

Will they be able to have a partner’s support in their birthing room? Is a new mom safe to breastfeed their baby if they test positive for SARS-CoV2? Should any family or friends be allowed around the baby? Is it safe to bring the baby in for routine checkups and well-child care in the middle of the pandemic?

Listen to pediatric experts discuss pregnancy and newborn care during COVID-19

In this episode, we will discuss clinical considerations for women and babies in the era of COVID-19 with Jessica Cataldi, MD, and Erica Wymore, MD.

Dr. Cataldi is a pediatric infectious disease physician at Children’s Hospital Colorado and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Dr. Wymore is a neonatologist at Children’s Colorado and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Neonatology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

In this episode, our experts discuss:

• What we know about the risks to pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19
• Risk of vertical transmission
• Policies on the presence of a support partner during delivery
• Testing procedures for pregnant women prior to delivery
• PUI status of infants born to mothers diagnosed with COVID-19
• Clinical presentation of newborns diagnosed with COVID-19
• COVID-19 symptoms that providers may want to look for in newborns during routine well visits
• Recommendations for preventing the spread of COVID-19 between a mother who has tested positive and her newborn
• Effects of social distancing measures on maternal mental health and postpartum depression
• Outcomes of mothers and newborns who have both tested positive for COVID-19
• What we know about transmission of COVID-19 in breastmilk
• Precautions breastfeeding moms with COVID-19 should take

Treatment of infectious diseases at Children’s Colorado

Our pediatric experts in the Infectious Disease Program at Children's Colorado provide a breadth of expertise ranging from laboratory-based research to the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. Pediatricians can treat many infectious diseases, but when unique or different symptoms are present, it’s important to refer to a pediatric specialist. We are prepared and ready to treat patients with suspected or confirmed 2019 novel coronavirus. Our clinical staff has been specially trained on how to identify, isolate and treat patients with this and other contagious illnesses.