COVID-19: Pregnancy, childbirth and caring for a newborn

Vaccination for COVID-19

Pregnant people are at increased risk for severe outcomes of COVID-19. Evidence shows that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are safe for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends you get a complete series with an mRNA vaccine if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. If you’re not able to receive an mRNA vaccine, for example, because of an allergy, you should consider another approved COVID-19 vaccine.

There's no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems.

Learn more about:

Pregnancy

Being pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic can be stressful. It's natural to worry about the effects of the virus on your pregnancy and your unborn baby.

Evidence shows that it's rare to pass COVID-19 to your baby during pregnancy.

The latest scientific evidence shows that COVID-19 doesn't impact all pregnancies the same way. There are a number of important factors to consider, including:

your risk of exposure to COVID-19
the risk of more severe disease or outcomes if you get COVID-19 while pregnant

It's important to talk to your health care provider.

If you do get COVID-19 while you're pregnant, you may have an increased risk of more severe disease or outcomes, including the need for intensive care.

The risk of severe disease or outcomes appears to be worse with some COVID-19 variants. It's important to continue regular prenatal visits during COVID-19, even if completed virtually.

Pre-existing conditions

If you have a pre-existing condition, you may also be at risk of more severe disease or outcomes. These conditions include:

obesity
diabetes
high blood pressure
advanced age during pregnancy

If you have a pre-existing condition and are pregnant, you can reduce your risk of getting sick with COVID-19.

Protect yourself and others

During pregnancy, it remains important to use multiple personal preventive practices at once, regardless of your vaccination status, such as:

getting an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine
wearing a mask
minimizing non-essential in-person interactions with people from outside your immediate household
avoiding closed spaces (with poor ventilation) and crowded places with people from outside of your immediate household
practising hand hygiene often

This layered approach is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting COVID-19.

Consider asking your doctor, obstetrician or midwife for telephone or videoconference appointments, if possible. Doing so can help you to avoid in-person interactions with others.

Childbirth

Giving birth during the COVID-19 pandemic can be stressful. It's normal to feel sad, scared or confused. Talk to your health care provider about how COVID-19 may affect your birth plan and your family after birth.

If you plan to give birth in a hospital or birth centre, talk to your health care provider about:

your birth plan
how your plan may need to change due to COVID-19

Learn about the COVID-19 policies regarding support and visitors.

If you plan to give birth at home, talk to your midwife about:

precautions to make sure your home environment is safe
whether home births are still an option in your province or territory

If you have COVID-19, talk to your health care provider about how this may affect giving birth. With proper precautions, breastfeeding, skin-to-skin and rooming-in are recommended at birth.

Your health care provider may consult other specialists for you or your baby as required.

Baby care

Once a baby is born, they can get COVID-19 from other people, so it's important to limit their contact with others.

To protect yourself and your baby, you should continue to follow recommended personal preventive practices.

We recommend breastfeeding when possible. It has many health benefits and offers the most protection against infection and illness throughout infancy and childhood. Breastmilk isn't known to transmit COVID-19. Breastfeeding can provide important nutrition for your baby.

If you have symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19

General precautions

If you have or think you have COVID-19, you must isolate yourself at home. You can still hold your baby skin-to-skin and stay in the same room as them, especially when bonding and breastfeeding.

You should take precautions to avoid spreading the virus to your baby.

When awake, wear a medical mask when you're in the same room as your baby.
- If unavailable, properly wear a well-constructed and well-fitting non-medical mask.
Wash your hands frequently, especially before touching your baby.
Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that you frequently touch.
If sleeping in the same room as your baby:
- make sure the space is well ventilated
- maximize the physical distance between you and your baby

Learn more about:

Precautions during feeding

When feeding your baby:

put a clean towel on your nursing pillow (if you use one) each time you use it
clean any breast pump equipment carefully before and after each use by:
- washing the pump and containers after every use with dishwashing liquid and warm water
- rinsing with hot water for 10 to 15 seconds
don't share bottles or breast pumps

You may be too ill to breastfeed or provide routine baby care. If so, ask a healthy adult to feed and care for your baby. Ideally, the baby's caregiver would be someone who is part of your immediate household. As there may be COVID-19 in the home, the baby's caregiver should:

avoid being in a shared space (such as the same room) or having in-person interactions with you
- if this isn't possible, they should:
  - make sure interactions are as few, as brief, and occur from the greatest physical distance possible
  - wear a medical mask or a well-constructed and well-fitting non-medical mask
avoid direct physical contact with you
- if direct physical contact is expected, they should wear a medical mask
  - if unavailable, they should properly wear a well-constructed and well-fitting non-medical mask
wash their hands frequently

Learn more about:

Visitors after your baby is born

After your baby is born, friends and family may want to visit and meet your baby. Visitors should be limited to reduce the risk of possible exposure to COVID-19. This can be very difficult, but it's important to keep your family safe.

Consider celebrating the birth of your baby by having virtual visits and using online tools.

If you do plan to have in-person visits, continue to follow:

the advice of your local public health authority on gathering size limits
other recommended public health measures, including personal preventive practices

Ensure in-person visits occur in lower-risk settings, such as outdoors or in a well-ventilated indoor space. Ask visitors to:

stay home if they're sick
wear a mask
maintain as great a distance as possible from you and your baby
wash their hands when visiting

Layering personal preventive practices is the best way right now to protect yourself and your family from COVID-19, regardless of everyone’s vaccinations status.

Mental health

Having a baby is a big change for families. Feeling a range of emotions is normal and expected. You know yourself and your baby best. If you think you may need extra help and support, it's important to reach out.

If you or a loved one are experiencing feelings that concern you, seeking help early can help you to feel better sooner. Parenting during COVID-19 can be especially challenging, but there are many resources available.

We encourage parents to talk about their mental health with:

family
friends
community supports
their health care provider

More ways to get help

Postpartum supports and resources

Postpartum Support International: Canada

Mental health supports

Canadian Mental Health Association
- provides supports in your local area
Wellness Together Canada
- has free mental health and addictions supports, information and practical tools, including confidential sessions with mental health professionals
- for immediate support, text WELLNESS to 741741
Contact your local public health unit to find other supports in your local area

Crisis support and suicide prevention

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call the Canada Suicide Prevention Service at 1-833-456-4566.

Visit Crisis Services Canada for the distress centres and crisis organizations nearest you.

Federal, provincial and territorial resources and programs

Federal

Alberta

British Colombia

Manitoba