Covid-19 & PPCM

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Peripartum Cardiomyopathy(PPCM) may easily be misdiagnosed as many other respiratory diseases including Coronavirus. Although pregnant women do not appear to be at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 or suffering severe sickness based on observations from China many of those who are expecting understandably have questions and concerns.

• Although the overall risk of severe illness is low, pregnant people and recently pregnant people are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 when compared to non-pregnant people.
• Having certain underlying medical conditions, and other factors, including age, can further increase a pregnant or recently pregnant (for at least 42 days following the end of pregnancy) person’s risk for developing severe COVID-19 illness.
• Pregnant people with COVID-19 are also at increased risk for preterm birth (delivering the baby earlier than 37 weeks) and might be at increased risk for other poor pregnancy outcomes.
• Pregnant and recently pregnant people and those who live with or visit them need to take steps to protect themselves from getting sick with COVID-19.

Pregnant people with COVID-19 are more likely to experience preterm birth (delivering the baby earlier than 37 weeks) and might be more likely to have other poor outcomes related to pregnancy compared to pregnant people without COVID-19. Other poor pregnancy outcomes, such as pregnancy loss, have been reported.

See the latest data on birth and infant outcomes among pregnant women with COVID-19.

If you are pregnant and have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine

If you would like to speak to someone about COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, you can contact Lumin Diagnostic Services. Lumin experts are available to answer questions in English or Spanish by phone or chat. The free and confidential service is available Monday–Friday 9 am–5 pm. 

To reach Lumin Diagnostic Services:

• Call  469-773-9261 
• Chat live or send an email  info@luminds.com 

The same general rules apply to both pregnant and non-pregnant adults:

• Avoid people who are sick
• Wash your hands often using soap and water for 20 seconds (best) or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Avoid touching your face
• Avoid crowded places and social gatherings; avoid unnecessary person-to-person contact.
• Practice social distancing at work and when out buying food. Try to stay around 6 feet away from other people. The airborne respiratory droplets from coughing are heavy and tend to fall to surfaces within six feet of the person who has coughed.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. 

Pregnant women experience changes in their bodies that may increase their risk of some infections. With viruses from the same family as COVID-19, and other viral respiratory infections, such as influenza, women have had a higher risk of developing severe illness. It is always important for pregnant women to protect themselves from illnesses.

"CDC encourages all pregnant people or people who are thinking about becoming pregnant and those breastfeeding to get vaccinated to protect themselves from COVID-19. The vaccines are safe and effective, and it has never been more urgent to increase vaccinations as we face the highly transmissible Delta variant and see severe outcomes from COVID-19 among unvaccinated pregnant people. "