The world has been turned upside town with the coronavirus and it is a particularly stressful time to be pregnant. Pregnant women have lower immunity and even common ailments such as the flu could result in much more severe outcomes. There is currently not enough data to know how the coronavirus will affect pregnant people but according to very limited data collected, the virus does not seem to be passed onto the fetus and the virus was also not found in amniotic fluid or breast milk. This article presents some information from the CDC regarding pregnancy and the coronavirus.

Here are also some things that I have done during this time to lower the risk of infection:

• Wear a mask: I know that mask wearing is not promoted in the US or Europe but I wholeheartedly believe that wearing a mask will both protect yourself and others. Droplets are believed to be one of the main transmission routes of the coronavirus, so wearing a mask will definitely act as a barrier (read more on this issue in this Guardian Article). Below are some useful infographics on the benefits of wearing a mask put together by a HKU clinical assistant professor and microbiologist Dr. Siddharth Sridhar. I wear a mask as soon as I go out the front door and only take it off outside when I am eating, walking on a non-crowded hiking trail or beach, or when I’m inside our car.
• Wash hands often: I wash my hands whenever I come home for 20 seconds (remember to turn off the water while you lather up!), before I eat, and after handling packages/delivery.
• Use hand sanitizer when you can’t wash your hands: Make sure you hand sanitizer contains 60% or higher alcohol!
• Try not to touch my face: ah this is a hard one! I love scratching my nose or rubbing my eyes, but I definitely had to change this habit recently.
• Try to not touch surfaces with my hands: I always use my elbow to press lift buttons and my foot to push open doors.
• CLEAN MY PHONE: this one is so important! Our phone is such a petri dish of germs and I never really cleaned it before the virus. We are touching it constantly and it is also always on random surfaces. I always clean it with alcohol once I get home.
• Avoid crowded places/going outside: I am basically at home all the time and only venture out for morning walks, personal training with my prenatal coach, or doctor’s appointments. Earlier in the outbreak, I would still go out for lunch with some close friends at non-crowded and airy places but once things got a little more intense everything was cancelled. I recently did have lunch at an outdoor space but we went right when it opened and it was empty. I would definitely avoid places that had confirmed cases and high risk areas (such as clubs at the moment because many people have returned from overseas).
• Avoid taking public transportation: This might not be practical for everyone but I have completely stopped taking public transportation. Jerry also drives to work when he does go into the office once a week. We have taken cabs extremely sparingly for hikes where we can’t park at the starting point.
• Pick and choose your crowd: This seems a bit harsh but since I want to be super vigilant I only saw some friends that I knew were also super cautious. You need to make the decision that you feel most comfortable with (especially if you are pregnant or someone who is vulnerable at home). Friends have also been very forthcoming (such as if their boyfriend’s colleague is infected or if there is a confirmed case in their building). Don’t be shy to ask and also bow out of events if you feel that is the best decision for yourself. It is such a tense time and I am sure no one will take it personally (and if they do, that’s too bad).

In the next post, I will talk about things I’ve done to feel more positive and happy during this time!

As always, this is from my own research and experience and should not replace the advice from medical and public health professionals. Always consult your doctor and do your own research to figure out what is best for you.