Does Getting COVID-19 While Pregnant Harm Your Baby?

In 2019, a new virus hit the world scene and spread rapidly: a novel coronavirus, responsible for the respiratory disease COVID-19. With Zika virus and its risks of birth abnormalities still fresh on many people’s minds, pregnant women may have added another worry to their growing lists. And in 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak of COVID-19 a “public health emergency of international concern.” Those are some scary words. COVID-19 is still a new disease that hasn’t been well studied. How it affects pregnant women and their developing babies isn’t fully known. And that’s nerve wracking. But before you panic, read on. Here’s what you need to know about the new coronavirus if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant.