Long Covid in pregnancy: findings from multiple studies

Summary: Research shows Long Covid can occur during pregnancy, with symptoms and potential risks affecting maternal health and care decisions.

Research Paper Title: Pregnancy and Long Covid: current findings from multiple studies
Author surname (Year): Georgakopoulou (2024); Paulsen (2025); Zang (2025); Yao (2024)
Summarised by: S.Rajbally

1. Key Message

People infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy can develop Long Covid, with implications for maternal health and ongoing clinical monitoring, particularly among healthcare workers with occupational exposure (Zang et al., 2025; Georgakopoulou et al., 2024).

2. Key Points

·      Around 50% reported symptoms lasting ≥8 weeks in one cohort study (Paulsen et al., 2025)

·      Long Covid can occur after infection during pregnancy (Zang et al., 2025)

·      Common symptoms include fatigue, breathlessness, and cognitive difficulties (“brain fog”) (Georgakopoulou et al., 2024)

·      Some studies have reported associations with increased risks of complications such as gestational hypertension and preterm birth (Yao et al., 2024)

·      Evidence is still limited and findings vary between studies (Georgakopoulou et al., 2024)

·      Symptoms may overlap with normal pregnancy, increasing risk of under-recognition

3. What Was This Study About?

These studies examined whether people infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy develop Long Covid and whether this affects pregnancy outcomes (Zang et al., 2025; Paulsen et al., 2025).

They included population-based cohort studies, a systematic review, and comparative analyses involving pregnant and non-pregnant women (Georgakopoulou et al., 2024).

The aim was to understand symptom patterns, risk factors, and potential maternal and fetal impacts.

4. What Did the Researchers Find?

Across studies, Long Covid symptoms during pregnancy were commonly reported, including fatigue, breathlessness, cognitive dysfunction (“brain fog”), loss of smell or taste, and hair loss (Georgakopoulou et al., 2024; Paulsen et al., 2025).

In one large cohort study, around 50% of participants reported at least one symptom lasting 8 weeks or more after infection (Paulsen et al., 2025).

A U.S. comparative study found that Long Covid still occurred during pregnancy, although the relative risk appeared lower compared to non-pregnant women (Zang et al., 2025). However, a substantial proportion of pregnant individuals were still affected, indicating that pregnancy is not protective in absolute terms (Zang et al., 2025).

Some studies have reported associations between Long Covid and pregnancy complications, including gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, fetal growth restriction, and preterm birth (Yao et al., 2024). However, causality has not been established, and findings are not consistent across studies (Georgakopoulou et al., 2024). Therefore, results should be interpreted with caution due to variability in study design and definitions of Long Covid.

Risk factors for persistent symptoms appeared similar to those seen in the general population, including more severe initial infection and pre-existing conditions (Georgakopoulou et al., 2024).

5. Why This Matters

For healthcare workers, this evidence is particularly important as infection during pregnancy may reflect occupational exposure rather than community transmission. Persistent symptoms may affect ability to work, recovery during maternity leave, and long-term health outcomes.

For people with Long Covid, symptoms such as fatigue and breathlessness may overlap with normal pregnancy changes, increasing the risk that symptoms are overlooked or misattributed (Georgakopoulou et al., 2024). This overlap creates a diagnostic challenge. It can be difficult to distinguish expected physiological changes from post-viral pathology.

For healthcare systems, this suggests a need for improved recognition, monitoring, and support for those affected.

Long Covid during pregnancy represents a clinically relevant and under-characterised condition requiring careful recognition and monitoring, particularly in those with occupational exposure (Zang et al., 2025; Yao et al., 2024).

6. Read the Full Research Paper

Read study: Systematic review of Long Covid in pregnancy (2024)
Read study: Population-based cohort (Denmark, 2025)
Read study: U.S. comparative study (2025)
Read study: Retrospective cohort (2024)