Two new studies have detailed the dangers of COVID-19 infection in pregnancy and show how the infection threatens the health of pregnant people and their babies.

A study conducted in Scotland revealed that unvaccinated pregnant people who contracted COVID-19 had a higher likelihood of having a stillborn infant or one that died within the first 28 days. Additionally pregnant women infected with COVID died and required hospitalization at a much higher rate compared to vaccinated pregnant women. Around 77.4% of infections, 90.9% of COVID hospitalizations, and 98% of critical care cases were noted in the unvaccinated people, as were all newborn deaths. A total of 2,364 babies were born to COVID-infected women, with 2,353 live births. Eleven babies were stillborn while eight live-born babies died within 28 days. Of the live births, 241 were premature. The study is published in Nature Medicine.

The second study noted that women who contracted COVID-19 infection during pregnancy in five Western U.S. states had higher odds of having premature births, low birth weights, and stillbirths, even when the infection was mild. The study is published in the Lancet… (WebMD)