On November 19th, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released their weekly Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and the topic was “Risk for Stillbirth Among Women With and Without COVID-19 at Delivery Hospitalization  — United States, March 2020-September 2021.”  As the two year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic approaches, along with the one year anniversary of the availability of COVID vaccinations in many countries around the world, researchers have much more information and data to use in evaluating the impact of COVID on pregnancy and maternal and neonatal outcomes.

During the period of time between March 2020 and September 2021, pregnant people with COVID-19 were at a greater risk of experiencing a stillbirth than those people who were delivering without COVID-19. While stillbirths were rare (8,154; 0.65%): 273 (1.26%) occurred among 21,653 deliveries to women with COVID-19 documented at the delivery hospitalization, and 7,881 (0.64%) occurred among 1,227,981 deliveries without COVID-19.  During the time period when the Delta variant was prominent, the rate of stillbirth amongst COVID-19 positive pregnant people rose even more.  Additionally, maternal and perinatal complications were higher in the group of people delivering with COVID-19.

On November 22, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released a statement, with regard to this latest CDC Report, and acknowledged that the impact of the COVID-19 infection on pregnant people and their babies is well documented.  They urged health care providers who work with pregnant population to continue to continue to counsel people who are pregnant or anyone who is planning to become pregnant about the known risks of COVID-19 to themselves and their unborn child.  They also stated that health care providers stress the importance of getting the COVID-19 vaccination series before becoming pregnant, during pregnancy and continuing into the postpartum time.

“While masking and social distancing are helpful preventive measures, we can say unequivocally that COVID-19 vaccination is the only reliable way for pregnant individuals to protect themselves, their families and their pregnancies.”

Childbirth educators and other perinatal professionals are in an unique position to provide local resources and information about vaccination clinics in their communities along with the statements on COVID-19 as applicable to pregnant people, from local, state and national public health organizations, so families can access vaccinations and reduce the risks of complications from COVID-19 to themselves and their newborns.

References

DeSisto CL, Wallace B, Simeone RM, et al. Risk for Stillbirth Among Women With and Without COVID-19 at Delivery Hospitalization — United States, March 2020–September 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 19 November 2021. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7047e

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