Pregnancy and Cord Blood Banking During COVID-19

Even as some areas of the country start to reopen from the COVID-19 shutdown, we know there are still a lot of questions and concerns about how the outbreak might affect your pregnancy or the collection of your child’s cord blood. During these times of uncertainty, it’s important to ensure the health and wellbeing of you and your baby, and to have solace knowing that your baby’s cord blood will be safe and unaffected by the virus.

While information is still relatively limited on the effects of COVID-19 in general, MiracleCord has compiled resources for you to refer to regarding your pregnancy and the collection of your baby’s cord blood.

Am I at Higher Risk for COVID-19 While Pregnant?

According to both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Harvard Medical School there is no data at this point indicating that pregnant women are at higher risk for catching COVID-19 than other individuals. Furthermore, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) report that, at this time, there is no data to indicate that pregnant women are at risk to have more severe symptoms than the general public, either. 

However, changes to a woman’s body during pregnancy, including changes to hormone levels and immune system functions, can make them slightly more susceptible to catching diseases in general. In addition, like those in the general population, women with pre-existing medical conditions could also be at somewhat higher risk of contracting infections and developing other complications.

Therefore, MiracleCord strongly recommends that you defer to the guidance of your doctor in regards to your individual health situation to determine if additional precautions need to be taken during your pregnancy. 

Can Pregnant Women Transmit COVID-19 to Their Baby?

Currently, there is little information available on this subject, but the few studies that have been conducted thus far show that there is limited risk for a mother with COVID-19 to pass the infection on to their baby. 

While there have been limited reports of some babies testing positive for COVID-19 shortly after birth, it is unknown at this time whether these babies contracted the virus while in the womb, during the birth process, or after birth.  

Research into the transmission of COVID-19 from mother to baby is still ongoing, so if you are still early into your pregnancy, MiracleCord suggests referring to reliable sources like the CDC, ACOG, or other respected medical research organizations for up-to-date information throughout your pregnancy.

Can Cord Blood Contain COVID-19?

According to ACOG, respiratory diseases and coronaviruses, like COVID-19, are not typically transmitted through human cells.  Based on current research, this means that the likelihood of your baby’s cord blood being infected with COVID-19 is incredibly low. 

Furthermore, as of March 23, ACOG also reported there were no known cases of COVID-19 being transmitted through blood and blood products.  They stated that cord blood banking could continue as long as standard clinical guidelines were followed and personal protective measures were taken by those collecting the cord blood.  

Will COVID-19 Affect My Ability to Bank Cord Blood?

Based on current information, COVID-19 will not affect your ability to bank your baby’s cord blood.  Most laboratories, storage facilities, and courier services remain fully operational during the outbreak.  

At MiracleCord, we have been working closely with our medical and courier partners to ensure that safety measures are in place throughout the cord blood collection process.  We have also been closely monitoring the recommendations of the CDC, World Health Organization, and American Association of Tissue banks to ensure that best practices are followed at our laboratory to mitigate the risks associated with COVID-19.

Conclusion

It should be noted that very little is known about COVID-19 at this point, and that research is still ongoing.  

Ultimately, MiracleCord recommends following general CDC guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19, and continuing to refer to reliable sources like the CDC and ACOG for further updates on the virus during your pregnancy.  

For additional information on how MiracleCord is addressing COVID-19, we have added specific COVID-19 related questions to our FAQs.  COVID-19 FAQs

Sources:
Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Harvard Health Publishing - Harvard Medical School
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
Merck Manual
Healthline.com

DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE IS NOT INTENDED TO BE USED AS MEDICAL ADVICE.The materials and information contained on the MiracleCord website is provided for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended to, and does not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis, and should not be used as such. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. If you are seeking personal medical advice, you should consult with a licensed physician. Always consult with a qualified health care provider regarding a medical condition.