First and foremost, get evaluated for COVID-19 if you have a fever, diarrhea, sudden loss of taste and smell, cough up blood, and/or experience shortness of breath or chest pressure. Schedule a telemedicine consultation to evaluate your safest option for evaluation and treatment. Currently, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19. As we start to open across the globe, preventing COVID-19 remains the best option, so wash your hands with soap frequently and thoroughly and take extra precautions to avoid anyone possibly exposed to the virus, especially those sick or exposed within the last four weeks. Social distancing and masks are recommended public health informed practices. FACTS TO EASE YOUR MIND: -Research doesn’t find babies born to mothers with coronavirus are infected prior to birth. -No evidence suggests higher rates of defects, miscarriage, or stillbirth due to COVID 19. LIMITING YOUR EXPOSURE: 1. Avoid playdates and playgroups if you plan to become pregnant or are pregnant 2. Minimize waiting room time if full of patients, and keep space between you and others. 3. Avoid going to the pediatrician’s office with your child or to family medical appointments. 4. Avoid the emergency rooms, hospitals, and urgent care centers. 5. Ask about changes to your normal prenatal visit schedule or telemedicine options to avoid exposure in medical clinics. If you need to be measured, have an ultrasound, get fetal monitoring, or have other hands-on assessment, you will still need to go into the office. 6. If you need any blood work, ask if a mobile phlebotomist can do any lab work. 7. Request mail order medications for yourself and your family to avoid trips to the pharmacy. Many independent pharmacies offer free or low-cost home delivery. 8. Have other family members do the grocery shopping and run any necessary errands, or have things delivered. Many stores will deliver for free within a certain radius. 9. Staying home limits exposure risk, so you may want to ask for help from others. 10. If you do go out, wear a mask and practice social distancing. *TELEMED NOTE: Consider the following telemed services if your insurance does not offer them. iVisit app by GenieMD is now offering free telemedicine visits with the code BeatTheVirus, and the Care by UPRX app is as well with the code ATHOME2020. AmWell offers breastfeeding and mental health support. Please refer to the materials section below for direct links.

PLANNING FOR BIRTH If you are in your third trimester and planning for birth, talk to your doctor or midwife about any changes that might be needed in your birth plan. Visitors will likely be limited in order to limit exposure in the hospital. If you have the coronavirus infection when you deliver, you will likely be separated from your baby until you recover in order to prevent your baby from becoming infected. POSTPARTUM SUPPORT When you bring your baby home, you will need support. Grandparents frequently play a role in this transitional time with a new baby. Carefully consider your options for assistance before asking for family over the age of 60 to travel may expose them to COVID19 and risk serious complications. But you will still want to be sure you have the help you need. A postpartum doula may be an option. YOU AND YOUR NEWBORN: Once your baby is here, continue to practice social distancing and limit your time away from home to protect yourself and your infant from possible exposure to COVID19. Telemedicine and online medical resources can be of help for lactation and psychological support. Finally, ask your family to review the signs of postpartum mood disorders and trauma to ensure you get help if needed. If you are considering becoming pregnant: Those with a higher risk of pregnancy complications that might require hospitalization or medical complication that put them at higher risk for severe COVID disease should talk with their doctor about whether they should prevent pregnancy until this outbreak has resolved.

Emotional well being in turbulent times is as essential as staying informed and physically safe. This is a stressful time in history, and it’s normal to feel some anxiety and need support. Women who are pregnant are concerned about their health and their baby’s. Newly postpartum women are recovering from childbirth and pregnancy while caring for a new being. Women who are not pregnant who have a history of pregnancy complications that left them bedridden and isolated may feel stressed by being required to isolate. Surround yourself with family support, and seek professional assistance via telemedicine if needed. REMINDERS ON HOW TO CARE FOR YOURSELF: Communicate with friends and family often. Use your phone or video conferencing. While it’s important to limit exposure, it's also important to stay connected with others. This is an unprecedented time, and we all need support. Stay rested and eat a nutrient dense diet. Be sure to take your prenatals. Be physically active. Take a walk outside. If your neighbors are outside, too, chat but maintain social distancing. Talk with your doctor or midwife about indoor exercises for your stage of pregnancy. Spend time outside. Nature and consistency are encouraging. Plus, the vitamin D and sunshine is good for you. Try something new. Libraries are offering free access to books. Museums have online tours. Many venues are sharing live concerts. Take extra time to document your pregnancy with pictures, letters to your baby, writing stories you want to share. Set boundaries about how often and when you will read news updates about the pandemic. This can help to limit your stress. Breathe. The pandemic will not be forever, and we will all get through it together.

This section links leading research and public health organizations where you can find up-to-date information on COVID19 and pregnancy. In a fast changing environment, staying current is important. It can be tempting to believe news seen on social media, but please be sure to verify and fact check with credible, expert sources. Experts in the fields of obstetrics, fetal health, and public health should be your source of information on the current pandemic. When reading an electronic or print source, consider the following and only consume credible media: 1. Author - are they an expert with experience, education, and respect in their field? 2. Source - is the website or publication reputable and known for evidence-based science and medical information? 3. Timeliness - is the article timely? In a changing environment like COVID19 research and policy, check the date of what you read. 4. Verification - is the information verified? In general, you want to be sure the content is verified in other places and consistent with what other credible sources publish. The organizations linked in this section are experts in public health and maternal-fetal medicine, and are considered to be reliable sources.