nitric oxide, which can lead to dangerously low blood pressure.
The CDC, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine all recommend pregnant women get their COVID vaccines, which have been shown to be safe in women and babies.
“The vaccine could actually save your baby,” Hughes says.
What can you do?
Aside from getting vaccinated, there are a couple of things you can do to reduce the risk of stillbirth:
- Keep up with your antenatal appointments- This will allow you to undergo tests and measurements that can identify potential problems have to be done at specific times.
- Eat healthy and keep active
- Stop smoking
- Avoid alcohol in pregnancy
- Go to sleep on your side- Sleeping on your back doubles your risk of stillbirth after 28 weeks due to a lack of blood and oxygen getting to the baby.
- Get a flu shot- Much like the COVID vaccine, can protect you from complications of the illness and also pass protection along to your baby.
- Avoid people who are ill
- Prepare and store food safely
- Wash your hands
- Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat, some cheeses, and unpasteurized milk, which can cause infections such as listeria and salmonella.
If you notice any abnormal symptoms such as reduced movement from your baby, vaginal bleeding or discharge, itchy hands and feet and severe headache or swelling; you should contact your doctor immediately.
Although more needs to be done to bridge the health disparities among Black expectant mothers to ensure they get quality care, you can find comfort in knowing that you can take charge of your health. With the tips listed above, hopefully, you will have a safe and healthy pregnancy!