Two new studies bring reassuring news for expectant mothers: COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy is safe-and may also protect your baby’s long-term health.
Vaccine Safety in Early Pregnancy
A large French study of over half a million births found no increased risk of birth defects among mothers who received an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine during the first trimester. Experts emphasize that this is the most critical period for fetal development, as the brain and major organs are forming.
COVID Infection May Impact Baby’s Brain Development
A different study in the United States showed an increased incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders, including speech delays and motor disorders, as well as autism spectrum diagnoses by age three among babies whose mothers had COVID during pregnancy. The majority of those infections occurred in the third trimester.
What Doctors Recommend
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends vaccination as early in pregnancy as possible. Early vaccination prevents maternal complications and also allows for the passage of protective antibodies to the baby after birth.
In a nutshell: Getting the COVID vaccine protects you and your baby, reducing risks of infection, inflammation, and developmental complications.
MBH/AB