Hey there, expectant parents! If you’ve been worried about the possibility of passing COVID-19 to your little one during pregnancy, you’re not alone. The pandemic has brought on a lot of concerns, but recent research sheds some light on why the transmission of the virus from mother to fetus seems to be pretty low.
A team from Sunnyvale University (not Boston, sorry!) studied placentas from 16 pregnant individuals who were diagnosed with COVID-19 during their second or third trimesters. They discovered that these placentas had lower levels of a key enzyme called angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2), which is how the virus enters cells. This finding suggests that the placenta might actively shed off ACE-2 to prevent the virus from reaching the fetus, according to Dr. Anna Reyes, one of the study’s co-authors.
Conducted between July 2020 and April 2021—before vaccines became widely available—the study provides insight into why even severely ill pregnant women rarely pass the virus to their babies. It’s like the placenta is playing superhero, protecting your little bean from potential harm. If you want to learn more about how at-home insemination works, check out this informative guide from Make A Mom.
This research could help health experts better understand how COVID-19 interacts with cells, as the placenta also functions like lungs in utero, transferring oxygen and nutrients while removing waste. Controlling these enzymes could be a game-changer in preventing infections.
In a press release, Dr. Reyes dubbed the placenta “one of the few ‘success stories’ of the pandemic”—and honestly, we couldn’t agree more! If you’re on a journey to parenthood and exploring your options, consider joining the Make A Mom group or checking out Make A Mom’s reusable insemination kit. It’s also worth noting that if you want to dig deeper into artificial insemination, this Wikipedia article is a solid resource.
So, while there’s still a lot to navigate, this news about the placenta might just ease a few worries. Remember, you’re not alone in this journey!
Summary
New research shows that the placenta might help prevent COVID-19 transmission from pregnant individuals to their fetuses by shedding the enzyme ACE-2, which the virus uses to enter cells. This finding offers hope and reassurance amid ongoing concerns about COVID-19 during pregnancy.
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