Those who are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant may have questions about Coronavirus Disease 2019. While we don’t know many answers yet regarding how this virus can affect pregnancy, check out this guide with information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the latest information.

Q: What is COVID-19?

Cornoaviruses are a type of virus. A new type of this virus has caused an outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 is a pandemic, meaning the disease has spread across many countries.

A: What are the main symptoms of COVID-19?

Fever

Cough

Shortness of breath

Q: Are pregnant people more likely to get COVID-19?

A: We don’t know yet if pregnant people are more likely to get sick from COVID-19.

Q: Will COVID-19 make pregnant people sicker than other people?

A: We don’t know yet. Pregnancy can make the body more likely to get an infection. We do know that COVID-19 is from the same family as the flu. Pregnant people are more likely to be sicker from the flu than other people.

Q: How can pregnant people protect themselves from COVID-19?

A: Take these steps to prevent COVID-19:

• Cough into your elbow or a tissue

• Stay away from sick people

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds

• Clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer

Q: Can COVID-19 cause problems for a pregnancy?

A: We don’t know yet.

Q: Can COVID-19 be passed from a pregnant person to their baby?

A: We don’t know yet. So far, this has not happened.

Q: Can pregnant people with COVID-19 breastfeed?

A: We don’t know yet for sure. So far, the COVID-19 virus has not been found in breast milk.

Q: If a pregnant person has COVID-19, will it hurt the baby?

A: We don’t know yet. A small number of people who had COVID-19 during pregnancy have had problems such as preterm birth. However, we don’t know if these problems were because of COVID-19.

Q: What should I do if I think I have COVID-19?

A: If you think you have COVID-19, stay home and separate yourself from other people in your home. Call your doctor’s office or local health department before going in person to get checked. A doctor can tell you what your next steps should be.