A large UK study suggests having coronavirus around the time of birth may increase the chance of stillbirths and premature births - although the overall risks remain low. The research, led by the National Maternity and Perinatal Audit, looked at data involving more than 340,000 women who gave birth in England between the end of May 2020 and January 2021.

Scientists say while most pregnancies are not affected, their findings should encourage pregnant women to have jabs as soon as they are eligible.

The majority are offered vaccines when they are rolled out to their age group. The study appears in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Researchers say a higher risk of stillbirth and prematurity, as well as a greater chance of having a Caesarean section, remained even once factors such as the mother’s age, ethnicity, socio-economic background and common health conditions were taken into account.

Babies born to women who tested positive were more likely to need special neonatal intensive care because they were born early and needed more support - rather than being infected with coronavirus itself.

The study found:

• 3,527 had positive tests Of those, 30 had stillbirths (deaths occurring after 24 weeks of pregnancy)
• It was more common for women who had Covid-19 at the time of birth to be younger and from a black, Asian or other minority ethnic background
• This compares to 3.4 per 1,000 women who had a negative test
• Scientists calculate 8.5 per 1,000 women who had a positive test went on to experience a stillbirth
• 12% of women who had a positive coronavirus test gave birth prematurely (before 37 weeks)
• This compares to 5.8% of women who had negative tests

Source : BBC