Pregnancy

It is imperative that individuals who are pregnant avoid contracting COVID-19. People who are pregnant or recently pregnant are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 compared to people who are not pregnant. The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Primary series vaccination and staying up to date with booster shots is recommended for anyone who is pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy.

Misinformation and confusion about the COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy persist. The MMS provides the following trusted resources and information to help dispel the myths associated with the COVID-19 vaccines as well as assist clinicians and patients better understand COVID-19 during pregnancy and the benefits of getting vaccinated.

Information for Physicians and Health Care Providers

• The COVID-19 Vaccine: Guidelines and Resources for Pregnant & Lactating Patients from The Massachusetts Perinatal Quality Collaborative (MPQC)
• Communication Skills Training for Caregivers Discussing COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy and Post-Partum from UMass Chan Medical School’s Center for Integrated Primary Care (CIPC)
• Information and guidance from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG):
  • Vaccine Confidence and Training Tool Kit – a 6-part online training series to help increase your patients’ vaccine confidence
  • COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnancy: Conversation Guide – ACOG’s Key Recommendations and Messaging for Clinicians
• Considerations for inpatient obstetric health care settings by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Equity resources, coding, online learning opportunities, clinical information for clinicians from the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Information for Patients

• I'm pregnant. Should I get a COVID-19 vaccine? decision guide from Baystate Health
• Information and recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG):
  • COVID-19 Vaccines: Answers from Ob-Gyns – Read the FAQs
  • ACOG, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) statement that vaccines do not impact fertility
  • COVID-19, Pregnancy, Childbirth and Breastfeeding: Answers from Ob-Gyns – Read the FAQs
• The Perinatal-Neonatal Quality Improvement Network of Massachusetts (PNQIN)’s resources for patients including COVID-19 vaccination flyers in multiple languages for pregnant and postpartum people.
• Information and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
  • COVID-19 vaccines while pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Breastfeeding and caring for newborns