Early Studies Show No COVID-19 Transmission Between Mothers and Newborns March 17, 2020

Written by MSDC Staff

Early research from China is tentatively showing pregnant women who tested positive for COVID-19 are not transmitting the coronavirus to their newborns.

The research, published in Frontiers in Pediatrics, followed four pregnant women who tested positive for the novel virus. Three of the newborns were tested for COVID-19 and the tests were negative. The fourth newborn was not tested but shows no symptoms of the disease.

This small study is consistent with another, similar small study published in The Lancet earlier this month.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology posted a new practice advisory last Friday in light of the uncertainty around the effect of COVID-19 on pregnant women and their fetuses. The guidance, seen here, emphasizes that pregnant women should be considered an at-risk population. It also encourages OB-GYNs to utilize telemedicine as much as possible with patients and to follow CDC guidelines on caring for patients amidst the public health crisis.