Women should not be concerned about delivering by c-section when needed. However, this does add to the evidence that there could be harmful effects of choosing c-section as a routine.

Andrew Shennan

Cesarean delivery results in fewer bacteria in the baby's gut being like its mother's. This is not known to be harmful and mothers who need a caesarean should not be alarmed. The further effects of this in long term health need to be evaluated.

Compared to the original Covid virus the new variants( alpha and then delta) caused progressively more severe disease in pregnant women, this included need for ventilation, intensive care admission and pneumonia, more than 50 % more likely to occur.