Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pregnancy and health of newborns in Belgium.

There is growing evidence from literature that maternal and perinatal outcome parameters in pregnancies are complicated by COVID-19 infection or related stress (e.g., from lockdown and risk for infection). In general, clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in pregnant women have been compared to the non-pregnant infected population.  Next, some early observational designs are showing conflicting associations between the COVID-19 pandemic time period and neonatal outcomes.

In the current approach we will compare several subgroups of women who consulted the UZ Leuven Clinic between 2018 and 2021. Roughly, we will explore different windows of exposure. Those who were pregnant before the pandemic/lockdown, those who were pregnant during the pandemic/lockdown, and those who were planning to get pregnant during the pandemic/lockdown.

The primary aim of this retrospective cohort study is to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on pregnancy outcomes and complications of pregnancies. Within this group of future mothers we will also explore pregnancies diagnosed with COVID-19 infection (positive result on PCR test) vs. non-COVID-19-infected pregnancies (negative result on PCR test).

The secondary aim is to provide recommendations on hospital management of pregnant women during a pandemic or other societal crises related to the “Barker paradigm”. Insights will be developed to support future patient (self)management, vaccination strategies and organization of health care for future mothers.