Pregnant women may be more susceptible to long COVID than previously realized, according to a recent study. Victoria Coble, 39, from Greensboro, North Carolina, experienced severe COVID-19 symptoms while four months pregnant. Despite initially attributing her health issues to postpartum depression, she has continued to struggle with intense anxiety, depression, and cognitive difficulties even four years later.
Experts highlight that pregnant women are being diagnosed with long COVID in higher numbers than previously known. Due to limited historical data, symptoms often overlap with typical pregnancy signs, complicating diagnosis and management. This creates additional challenges for new mothers trying to navigate their health and family responsibilities.
Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, a leading expert on long COVID and chief of research and development at the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System, notes that distinguishing long COVID from normal pregnancy symptoms can be challenging. “Pregnancy symptoms eventually resolve, whereas fatigue and post-exertional malaise from long COVID often persist,” he explained.
Research published this month in Obstetrics & Gynecology reveals that nearly 10% of pregnant women who contracted COVID-19 during pregnancy developed long COVID. Many of these women experienced severe symptoms, including post-exertional malaise, gastrointestinal issues, and brain fog. The findings were surprising to researchers, given the generally healthy profile of pregnant women compared to other patient groups.
Dr. Torri Metz, an obstetrician and study author, remarked, “Seeing that over 9% of our study population developed symptoms consistent with long COVID was higher than anticipated.”
Additionally, misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic may have contributed to increased long COVID rates. A November 2022 study in Midwifery highlighted that vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women, fueled by anti-vaccine rhetoric, was prevalent. Dr. Al-Aly emphasizes that COVID-19 vaccinations significantly reduce the risk of developing long COVID, with a 70% reduction reported in recent studies. “Vaccination benefits far outweigh the minimal risks, especially for pregnant individuals,” he said.
Medical Gaslighting and Complications
Coble’s experience underscores a broader issue of “medical gaslighting,” where patients’ symptoms are dismissed or misunderstood, particularly when compounded by pregnancy. “Doctors never listen to me and it’s dehumanizing,” Coble said, reflecting her frustration with the medical community’s response.
For pregnant women with long COVID, the condition can exacerbate the stress of new motherhood and increase the risk of complications such as preterm birth and neurodevelopmental disorders. A recent study in Scientific Reports found that women with long COVID during pregnancy face a higher risk of gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, and fetal intrauterine growth restriction.
Treating long COVID during pregnancy presents challenges, as many treatments focus on symptom management without established safety profiles for pregnant women. Pregnant patients should ensure that any medications used are safe for both themselves and their children.
Impact on Children
Researchers are also investigating how long COVID in pregnant women might affect their children. Long COVID can lead to complications that may impact offspring development. Dr. Metz and Dr. Vanessa Jacoby are leading a forthcoming study funded by the National Institutes of Health’s long COVID RECOVER Initiative. This study will examine neurodevelopmental outcomes in children exposed to COVID-19 in utero and those whose mothers had COVID-19 during pregnancy.
“Understanding the impact on children is crucial,” Metz said. “We know long COVID affects new mothers severely, but we need more information on how this condition might influence their children’s development.”
Coble remains deeply concerned about her children’s future. She often struggles with fatigue that limits her ability to engage with them, which worries her about the long-term effects on their well-being. “I just worry how having a mom who can’t play with them will impact them later on. It’s just so hard,” she said, visibly emotional.
As research progresses, understanding the full scope of long COVID’s impact on both mothers and their children remains a priority.
