Sydney midwife busts the myths about pregnant women receiving the Covid-19 vaccine

An obstetrician on the front line of Australia’s battle against coronavirus has debunked theories about the Covid vaccine’s effect on pregnant woman. 

Liverpool Hospital’s birthing unit director Dr Gauthami Bhagwanani on Wednesday appeared at NSW‘s Covid-19 press conference to warn expectant mothers the virus itself poses a far greater risk to their unborn baby than the Covid-19 jab.    

‘The vaccine does not increase the risk of miscarriage or structural abnormalities for your baby,’ the Sydney-based doctor said.

‘It does not affect your fertility. What poses the greatest risk to women and their babies is not the vaccine. It is the Covid-19 infection itself.’

She also hit out at claims the vaccines had not been tested sufficiently on pregnant women before being rolled out to the public.  

‘In Australia we have had the added advantage of seeing the effects of the vaccine in pregnant women overseas,’ she said. 

‘Over 100,000 women were included in studies from the US and the UK. These have not demonstrated any adverse outcomes for your baby.’

Dr Bhagwanani said by contrast catching Covid-19 doubled the risk of pregnant women needing ICU admission and increased the chance of them needing invasive ventilation that could harm their baby.

She spoke of the heartbreak of seeing mothers who are so sick with the virus they had to deliver their baby pre-term. 

‘By receiving the COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy or when you are breastfeeding, not only are you protecting yourself but also your baby and the rest of your family,’ she said. 

‘The anti-bodies you produce after having the vaccination can offer some protection to your baby as well.’ 

More to come