As if there is not enough to worry about when you are pregnant, now there is the question of whether or not to get the COVID-19 vaccine. It’s a very personal decision, and it is important to get your information from reliable sources. If you are looking online for information, look at the source. Don’t rely on what your neighbor’s aunt said about it.
 
Make sure you talk to your doctor or health care provider about the benefits and risks to you personally. They can explain if you have any additional risk factors that need to be considered. While it is true that there have been no formal studies on the effect of the vaccine on pregnant women, they have been started. The results will take some time.
 
There are some facts that we do know.
 

Risk of COVID-19 Infection During Pregnancy

According to the Mayo Clinic, the risk of becoming very ill from the coronavirus is increased when you are pregnant. This is a danger to both you and your baby as it can result in premature birth and increased risk for C-sections.
 
If you have additional health issues such as diabetes, the risk is increased. You will want to think about this as well as what your living and working situation is. Do you always wear a mask and practice physical distancing? Is there a higher risk you will be exposed to the virus? You need to consider these factors.
 

Info About the COVID Vaccine for Pregnant Women

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) states that none of the COVID vaccines use live viruses, so you cannot get COVID from the vaccine.

• The vaccine will not affect your genes or DNA.
• The CDC is currently tracking pregnant women who have received the vaccine, and so far, no safety concerns have been seen.
• No long-term studies have been completed.

At the end of the day, you need to think about the information you have found and consider your own health status. Using this, you can then decide for yourself whether to get the vaccine or not. There are risk factors on both sides.

We know that COVID-19 is a dangerous and unpredictable illness, and we know that we don’t have all the studies we would like to have on the impact of the virus on pregnant women and their babies. It is important to note that they are not seeing any issues so far in the studies currently being done. The CDC does currently lean towards recommending the vaccine because the risk of COVID-19 on the mother and baby seems higher than the unknown risk of the vaccine.

Gather what you know, talk to your doctor and then make an informed decision. You can then feel comfortable with the choice you make.