women s health issues
COVID 19 During Pregnancy
Prevention of COVID 19 During Pregnancy
 has issued recommendations for preventing the spread of COVID-19. These recommendations apply to all people (see also Prevention ). If a pregnant woman may be infected, separating her from her baby after delivery may be necessary to avoid passing the infection to the baby. The CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccination for all eligible people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future. The benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy. (See alsoCDC: COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding.) Vaccination may also provide protection for infants if they are breastfed. A National Institutes of Health (NIH)-supported study found that when a pregnant person has antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 after being vaccinated or having COVID-19, those antibodies may be transferred to the infant through breast milk. The antibodies help infants gain immunity that can protect them from COVID-19. The risk of a mother transmitting the virus through breast milk is low or nonexistent. (See also CDC:COVID-19 and Breastfeeding.) If a woman with known SARS-CoV-2 infection chooses to breastfeed directly, she should wear a face mask and maintain proper hand hygiene. If bottle feeding breast milk, prior to expressing milk, the woman should put on a mask and thoroughly wash hands and any pump parts, bottles, and artificial nipples. 