What effect coronavirus infection has on the fetus is largely unknown till date. There were some predictions of passive transfer of IgG antibodies through the placenta which may induce some immunity to the fetus. However there is no convincing evidence that fetuses are protected by maternal antibodies.
There are various reports where the coronavirus infection in pregnant females have resulted in preterm delivery and abortion with no conclusive evidence if the loss was caused by direct viral mediated damage to the fetus or due to alterations in the physiological niche.
As pregnancy is a low immunity state, it is advised that pregnant women should practice self hygiene and social distancing so as to minimize the risk of contracting the infection.
Pregnancy also limits the use of chest CT as it involves high doses of radiation which may harm the fetus when exposed in early weeks of conception. Although, pregnant patients also show a similar pattern of lung involvement with a wide spectrum of imaging appearances like crazy paving pattern, ground glass opacities and consolidations, one has to weigh the risk versus benefit ratio of performing CT scan in such patients. Furthermore, the safety profile of antiviral medications used in the treatment of COVID 19 like steroids and remdesivir is largely unknown to the mother and fetus and must be used with extreme caution
After birth, the baby is equally susceptible to COVID infection as any other adult, however the amount of risk and complications involved are not known.
Therefore, we are still in the phase where many aspects of COVID 19 infection in pregnancy is not known. Therefore, it is advised that proper social distancing and use of masks should be encouraged to all pregnant females so as to prevent from contracting the infection in the first instance.
