How COVID-19 can lead to serious complications during pregnancy

Tim Bruckner, an associate professor of public health at the University of California, Irvine, said scientists are still exploring the mechanisms behind why COVID-19 can cause complications in pregnant people. “Possible pathways involve inflammation during the first or second trimester that affects the placenta and the pregnancy as it progresses toward term, as well as symptoms from the course of COVID-19 infection that adversely affects the birthing person at or around birth,” Bruckner said.