Title: Understanding COVID-19 infection in pregnant women and their babies (periCOVID)
Funder: Action Medical Research

Abstract: Background _x000D_ Pregnancy and the perinatal period are times when women and their babies are considered to be especially vulnerable to infection. Understandably, the COVID-19 pandemic has raised major concerns for women and their healthcare teams. One important question is whether or not the virus can be passed from mother to baby (vertical transmission) and if so how often this happens. Another important question is whether antibodies to the virus can be passed from mother to baby providing some degree of immunity. Recent studies suggest that many pregnant women who test positive for COVID-19 may have no symptoms at all, therefore to understand how much of a problem the virus really is for women and their babies, it is essential for studies to include all pregnant women, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. _x000D_ _x000D_ The research project_x000D_ This study, called the periCOVID study, will include pregnant women from 10 hospitals in England who will be screened for COVID-19 both during pregnancy and at delivery. In addition, any pregnant woman in England who tests positive for the virus will be invited to take part. The team plans to establish what proportion of pregnant women have antibody against COVID-19 and determine how much of this antibody is passed to their babies, both via the placenta during pregnancy and in breastmilk after birth. In addition, for women who have a positive COVID-19 test during pregnancy, they will look to see if live virus can be detected in body fluids of women and their babies at delivery, and follow-up these mothers and babies for up to 6 weeks. _x000D_ The findings of this study will be important for reassuring pregnant and breastfeeding women about how to care for their babies safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. They will also guide experts as they develop recommendations on both the monitoring and care of women and babies during and after pregnancy, and the safety and welfare of their healthcare teams. Finally, the results will inform decisions on the inclusion of pregnant women in COVID-19 vaccine trials to protect them and their babies from infection._x000D_

Lay abstract: Background _x000D_ Pregnancy and the perinatal period are times when women and their babies are considered to be especially vulnerable to infection. Understandably, the COVID-19 pandemic has raised major concerns for women and their healthcare teams. One important question is whether or not the virus can be passed from mother to baby (vertical transmission) and if so how often this happens. Another important question is whether antibodies to the virus can be passed from mother to baby providing some degree of immunity. Recent studies suggest that many pregnant women who test positive for COVID-19 may have no symptoms at all, therefore to understand how much of a problem the virus really is for women and their babies, it is essential for studies to include all pregnant women, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. _x000D_ _x000D_ The research project_x000D_ This study, called the periCOVID study, will include pregnant women from 10 hospitals in England who will be screened for COVID-19 both during pregnancy and at delivery. In addition, any pregnant woman in England who tests positive for the virus will be invited to take part. The team plans to establish what proportion of pregnant women have antibody against COVID-19 and determine how much of this antibody is passed to their babies, both via the placenta during pregnancy and in breastmilk after birth. In addition, for women who have a positive COVID-19 test during pregnancy, they will look to see if live virus can be detected in body fluids of women and their babies at delivery, and follow-up these mothers and babies for up to 6 weeks. _x000D_ The findings of this study will be important for reassuring pregnant and breastfeeding women about how to care for their babies safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. They will also guide experts as they develop recommendations on both the monitoring and care of women and babies during and after pregnancy, and the safety and welfare of their healthcare teams. Finally, the results will inform decisions on the inclusion of pregnant women in COVID-19 vaccine trials to protect them and their babies from infection._x000D_

Research activity codes: 2.1 BIOLOGICAL AND ENDOGENOUS FACTORS
Health categories: INFECTION;REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND CHILDBIRTH