Other Ways to Protect Yourself
If COVID-19 cases are on the rise in your community, there are additional ways to help protect yourself:
► Limit close contact with people not in your immediate household. Wear a snug-fitting face mask and maintain social distance (staying 6 feet from others) when in public places or large groups.
► Wash hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds—especially before touching your mouth, nose or eyes; before and after eating or meal prep; and after using the bathroom, coughing or sneezing, changing a diaper, or caring for someone who is sick. Use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol when soap and water are not available.
► Watch for symptoms: Fever, cough and shortness of breath. If you have these symptoms, call your obstetrician or midwife.
► Don’t skip prenatal appointments. These are important to your and your baby’s well-being. Your obstetrician or midwife will take steps during appointments to keep you and other patients safe. Ask your prenatal care provider about these.
► If you’re sick, call first—before heading to a doctor's office or hospital. If you do have COVID-19, note that most people safely recover at home. Hospital care is needed only for severe symptoms and emergencies. More on what to do if you have the virus.
► Do not delay getting emergency medical care (due to worries about potential exposure to COVID-19). Call 911 or go directly to the emergency room. Call the ER on the way to let them know you are pregnant. Hospitals have plans in place to protect people at higher risk from contagious illnesses, including.
► Get vaccinated for the flu and for whooping cough (the TDaP vaccine) during pregnancy. Both illnesses have similar symptoms to COVID-19, which could make it difficult to tell which illness you have. Getting vaccinated for these, as well as for COVID-19, can help protect you from the possibility of having any of these at the same time.
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