Returning to Work Postpartum
MAY 16, 2025Whether it’s six weeks or six months postpartum, the shift back into a professional role often comes with a mix of emotions and a host of physical considerations.
Read MoreIn August of 2021 alone, 22 pregnant women in the US died of COVID-19.
Data from the CDC showed after the Delta variant arrived, the risk of stillbirth was four times higher for women with COVID-19 versus women who did not have the virus. That’s a significant rise from pre-Delta data which showed the increased risk of stillbirth for women with COVID-19 was about 1.5 times that of women who did not have the virus.
The risks are so concerning, the CDC released an urgent health advisory last September aimed at pregnant, recently pregnant and women trying to become pregnant. It included findings that pregnant women symptomatic with a COVID-19 infection experienced:
Many women took a wait-and-see approach to COVID-19 vaccination. That may be one reason only 31 percent of pregnant women have received the COVID-19 vaccine, and that rate is lower for Hispanic and Latino women (25 percent) and black women (15.6 percent).
There’s no reason to wait. The CDC strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccination before or during pregnancy because it can prevent severe illness, death and pregnancy complications related to COVID-19. Also, the benefits for mom and baby outweigh known or potential risks.
Misinformation about vaccine safety has also caused hesitancy among pregnant women. Now, nearly a year after the COVID-19 vaccines were first made available, we understand more than ever about what happens when pregnant women receive a vaccine. According to the CDC:
According to the latest CDC data, the risk for stillbirth was significantly higher during the period of Delta predominance than during the pre-Delta period.
Some underlying medical conditions and other factors can further increase a pregnant or recently pregnant woman’s risk for developing severe COVID-19 illness. People who live with, or visit, pregnant and recently pregnant people should also take steps to protect themselves from COVID-19 with a vaccine. If you have concerns, my best advice is to talk to your health care provider.
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Whether it’s six weeks or six months postpartum, the shift back into a professional role often comes with a mix of emotions and a host of physical considerations.
Read MoreIf you've had a Cesarean birth (C-section) in the past, you might be wondering about your options for future deliveries.
Read MoreThe truth is, osteoporosis is a significant health concern for women of all ages, but especially those that are post-menopausal. There are multiple factors that contribute to a diagnosis of osteoporosis, some that we can control and some we cannot.
Read MoreWhen you need local health information from a trusted source, turn to the CHI Health Better You eNewsletter.