Having a baby can produce a whirlwind of emotions and can be tough for everyone involved.
The coronavirus pandemic has been difficult for many pregnant women, with worries of infection and self-isolation all making it a little bit harder to enjoy pregnancy.
One obstetrician has revealed her top advice to pregnant women as we head into the winter months and the risk from contracting the virus become higher.
Chief scientific adviser for the Department of Health and Social Care, Lucy Chappell said the data published on how dangerous COVID can be for pregnant women has been ‘heart breaking’.
Around one in five patients receiving treatment through a special lung bypass machine were women who had not had their first jab, it was found.
Just two weeks ago mums-to-be were urged to get their vaccines as 98 percent of women in ICU with COVID-19 were found to be unvaccinated.
Last week it was also found that COVID jabs are safe for pregnant women and their unborn children.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) research shows being jabbed didn’t alter the risk of stillbirth, premature delivery or low birth weight.
Lucy said: “The message I want to give is this: if you’re thinking about pregnancy, already pregnant, a new mother, or know someone who is pregnant or concerned about fertility, get your vaccine and stay safe.”
“Senior doctors and healthcare professionals from across the health system, including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives, have been clear that the COVID vaccines are the best possible way pregnant women can protect themselves from the virus.”
“Real-world data from the United States, where the vaccines have been given to more than 177,000 pregnant women, has also been reassuring that they’re safe for this group.”
Writing in The Guardian she said that more and more evidence keeps emerging to back the safety of vaccines.
Most pregnant women became eligible for their vaccine in June.
From May to June, women giving birth who had been vaccinated also went up.
In May just three percent of women giving birth were vaccinated and this had climbed to 22 percent in August – showing that more and more pregnant women are taking up the offer of jabs.
Pregnant women are also ahead of the queue when it comes to booster vaccines as women who are aged 40 and over, are health or social care workers or are in an at-risk group can get their booster as long as it’s been six months since their second dose.
Lucy added that there is more to be done to make sure that pregnant women from all groups are coming forward for their vaccines.
“Every contact counts between a pregnant women and a healthcare professional. This new data on pregnancy outcomes provides important information to help pregnant women feel more confident about having the vaccine”, she added.
This story originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced here with permission.