{"id":75079,"date":"2020-09-28T15:07:48","date_gmt":"2020-09-28T21:07:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanpregnancy.org\/?p=75079"},"modified":"2023-06-01T02:45:28","modified_gmt":"2023-06-01T08:45:28","slug":"caring-for-newborns-when-mom-has-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanpregnancy.org\/healthy-pregnancy\/caring-for-newborns-when-mom-has-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Risks for newborns born to mothers with COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, much is still unknown about the risks of COVID-19 to newborns born to mothers with COVID-19. We do know that:<\/p>\n
Decide if your newborn is rooming-in with you in the hospital<\/strong><\/p>\n CDC recognizes that the ideal setting for the care of a healthy, full-term newborn during the birth hospitalization is within the mother\u2019s room (\u201crooming-in\u201d). Current evidence suggests that the risk of a newborn getting COVID-19 from its mother is low, especially when she uses appropriate precautions before and during care of the newborn, such as wearing a mask and practicing hand hygiene.<\/p>\n If you are diagnosed with or test positive for the virus that causes COVID-19, you should discuss with your healthcare provider the risks and benefits of having your newborn stay in the same room with you. This conversation should begin during prenatal care if possible. Having your newborn stay with you in the same room has the benefit of facilitating breastfeeding and maternal-newborn bonding. Potential risks may include giving the virus to the newborn, although current evidence suggests the risk of a newborn getting COVID-19 from their mother is low if precautions are taken. After discussing, make an informed decision of whether your newborn is staying in the same room with you while in the hospital.<\/p>\n If you are in\u00a0isolation for COVID-19<\/a>\u00a0and are sharing a room with your newborn, take the following precautions to reduce the risk of spreading the virus to your newborn:<\/p>\n If your\u00a0isolation period has ended<\/a>, you should still wash your hands before caring for your newborn, but you don\u2019t need to take the other precautions. You most likely won\u2019t pass the virus to your newborn or any other close contacts after your isolation period has ended.<\/p>\n If you are still in\u00a0isolation for COVID-19<\/a>\u00a0and have returned home, take the following precautions until your\u00a0isolation period has ended<\/a>:<\/p>\n Others in your household and caregivers who have COVID-19 should\u00a0isolate<\/a>\u00a0and avoid caring for the newborn as much as possible. If they have to care for the newborn, they should practice hand hygiene and wear a mask.<\/p>\n A face shield could increase the risk of\u00a0sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)<\/a>\u00a0or accidental suffocation and strangulation. Babies move frequently. Their movement may cause the plastic face shield to block their nose and mouth, or cause the strap to strangle them.<\/p>\n There are also no data supporting the use of face shields among babies for protection against COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses.<\/p>\n CDC recommends all people 2 years of age and older wear a\u00a0mask\u00a0in public settings and when around people who don\u2019t live in their household. CDC\u00a0does not recommend<\/strong>\u00a0use of face shields as a substitute for masks for the general public, including pregnant or breastfeeding mothers.<\/p>\n Safe sleep is an important part of keeping babies healthy.<\/p>\n During the COVID-19 pandemic, parents of babies may experience increased stress and fatigue that could affect their ability to ensure that their baby is sleeping safely. Help reduce your baby\u2019s risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related deaths by doing the following:<\/p>\n Learn more about\u00a0how to reduce the risk of SIDS<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ideally, newborn visits are done in person so that your baby\u2019s healthcare provider can<\/p>\n Make sure to call and notify your baby\u2019s healthcare provider before visiting if you or your baby have COVID-19.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Source: \u00a0Center for Disease Control<\/a>:<\/p>\n <\/p>\nTake precautions when having your newborn stay in the same room with you, if you are in isolation for COVID-19<\/h3>\n
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Take precautions at home if you are in isolation for COVID-19<\/h3>\n
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Do not put a face shield or mask on your baby<\/h3>\n
Ensure safe sleep for your baby<\/h3>\n
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Bring your baby for newborn visits<\/h3>\n
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Want to Know More?<\/h4>\n