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The CDC is urging pregnant women to get vaccinated after August was the deadliest COVID month yet for pregnant women.
In August, 22 pregnant women died from COVID – the highest number ever. Plus, just catching COVID can put unborn babies at risk, causing premature or fatal births – as well as other risks to both mother and baby.
New data also shows symptomatic pregnant women have a higher risk of ICU admission.
With vaccination rates among pregnant women low at just 31%, an OBGYN at UNC says she has too often seen complications in unvaccinated women in the delivery room.
Dr. Lisa Rahangdale says she knows making health decisions during pregnancy can be overwhelming. Mothers want to protect their babies, and during a pandemic this is especially difficult.
“We have seen people who are not vaccinated have complications that keep them in intensive care, put them on ventilators, force us to give birth early,” she said.
According to the CDC, as of September 27, there had been more than 125,000 confirmed cases of COVID in pregnant women, causing 22,000 hospitalized cases and 161 deaths.
The CDC says vaccination before or during pregnancy greatly outweighs the risk. Dr Rahangdale agrees.
“It has been given to over 161,000 pregnant women and we have found no indication of an increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm labor,” she says.
A local mother, Lauren Schneider, says she understands the reluctance and fear. She chose to be vaccinated during her pregnancy and recently gave birth to a healthy baby girl.
But she admits that she also had questions.
“When parents try to do what’s best for their children, they can become fiercely protective. There’s not a lot of data, and there’s a lot of hysteria and a lot of misinformation, ”she said.
In the end, she decided to trust the health care providers in her life.
Sometimes talking to your own doctor can instill a greater sense of confidence, rather than hearing what state or federal health care experts say you’ve never met.
If you are unsure of the vaccine, experts at UNC encourage you to contact your doctor and discuss your fears and concerns.
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