Pregnancy, Birth and Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Some people may be feeling worried or depressed at the moment, especially if they already have some mental health problems. There are many services that can help without leaving home. During this crisis, Australians can use Medicare to talk to health practitioners about mental health.  Read more here 

COVID-19 is the talk of the town and we want to make sure that you mob understand what all the fuss is about.  We know it spreads from person to person and that our Elders and those with chronic health conditions are most at risk. This makes it even more important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to know how to protect yourself and your mob. Whether at home or for mob working on the frontline in the health sector — here are some helpful tips. Read more here 

A new awareness campaign calling on all people around the world to follow five key steps to stop the spread of the disease. Read more here 

The following advice is provided as a resource for UK Healthcare Professionals based on a combination of available evidence, good practice and expert advice. The priorities are (i) the reduction of transmission of COVID-19 to pregnant women and (ii) the provision of safe care to women with suspected/confirmed COVID-19. Please be aware that this is very much an evolving situation and this guidance is a living document that may be updated if or when new information becomes available. We therefore suggest that you visit this page regularly for updates.  Read more here 

This advice is from the UK, but relevant here. Key messages: antenatal and postnatal care is important, so continue your check-ups unless you are unwell.
Here in Australia we have online and telephone midwifery appointments available if need be, as of this week. Don’t hesitate to contact your local midwife if you need advice or support at any time. Read more here 

Key messages: Pregnant women do not appear to be more severely unwell if they develop COVID-19 infection than the general population. It is expected the large majority of pregnant women will experience only mild or moderate cold/flu like symptoms. For women who are trying to conceive, or who are in early pregnancy, there is no evidence to suggest an increased risk of miscarriage with COVID-19. Furthermore, there is also no evidence that the virus can pass to your developing baby while you are pregnant (this is called vertical transmission). There is also no evidence that the virus will cause abnormalities in your baby. Read more here 

WHO is continuously monitoring and responding to this outbreak. This Q&A will be updated as more is known about COVID-19, how it spreads and how it is affecting people worldwide. For more information, check back regularly on WHO’s coronavirus pages.  Read Q&A here and Read more here