Pregnant women are a vulnerable group who are slightly immunocompromised according to Dr. Rachel Morris. She’s director of COVID-19 obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Morris says rare emergency caesarian sections are happening more frequently because of the Delta variant. She hasn't seen anything like this since the coronavirus pandemic began.
“When a mother gets so sick you have minutes to deliver the baby or there’s no baby. So, we have got so good at a bedside caesarian section it’s out of this world. It really is. It’s so devastating,” said Morris.
Morris says they're seeing more severe COVID-19 cases among women who are 22 to 28 weeks into their pregnancy. The state health department reports there have been 72 fetal deaths since the pandemic began. They are also investigating eight COVID-19 related deaths among pregnant women over the past four weeks. Dr. Michelle Owens, a ob-gyn professor and Maternal and Fetal Medicine Fellowship Director, also with UMMC, says the cases are among unvaccinated women. She says some are given misinformation, others are discouraged from getting the vaccine or fearful it will hurt their unborn baby.
Owens says if expectant mothers are exposed to COVID or have the virus, they should get the monoclonal antibody treatment.
“We really don’t have a lot of wonderful therapies that are available at this point and that is something that can make a big difference, not only in survival but also in morbidity like how bad can it get for you,” said Morris.
Owens is urging pregnant women and those who are trying to have a baby to get vaccinated She also says studies show the COVID-19 vaccine does not cause infertility in males or females. Morris adds since the COVID-19 vaccine became available, more studies have been done that show it is safe for women at any point in their pregnancy and may pass antibodies onto the babies.
.jpg)
