The number of pregnant women in intensive care with Covid is ‘worrying’ health chiefs amid fears some expectant mothers are refusing their jabs.

A record total of 66 pregnant women in England, Wales and Northern Ireland ended up in intensive care in July.

It is the highest number since the pandemic began, and is three times as high as the height of the first wave in April last year.

Figures from the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC) also showed 46 recently pregnant women were in intensive care last month.

The spike in admissions coincided with England’s so-called ‘freedom day’ on July 19, when most of the remaining lockdown restrictions were lifted.

Before July, the number of pregnant mothers in intensive care was slowly rising, from 17 in March to 22 in June.

Dr Edward Morris, the president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said the increase is ‘worrying’ and it shows the prevalence of the virus is rising.

He urged pregnant women to get their jabs amid concern that some are delaying theirs because of safety fears.

‘We have data of nearly 200,000 pregnant women receiving the vaccine with no safety concerns,’ Dr Morris told the Guardian.

‘We recommend that all pregnant women should get vaccinated against Covid-19, as the best way to protect themselves and their babies against severe illness and premature birth.’

Claudia Li, 30, was not due for 16 weeks when she contracted Covid after returning to work last month.

The project engineer was left unconscious on a ventilator, and doctors had to urgently deliver the baby.

She is thankfully recovering with her baby, but is now urging women to get vaccinated.

‘Please, take the vaccine,’ she told the Birmingham Mail. ‘I didn’t. Don’t risk yours and your baby’s life.’

Many women have felt hesitant about the jab, but research has shown being vaccinated is the safest option.

A study recently showed more than 99% of pregnant women admitted to hospital with Covid were unvaccinated.

Oxford University researchers also say the Delta variant poses a significantly greater risk of severe disease, with one in 10 pregnant women in hospital requiring intensive care treatment.

Public Health England (PHE) says anyone who is pregnant should be offered vaccines at the same time as people of the same age or risk group.

England’s chief midwife Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent said: ‘Vaccines save lives, and this is another stark reminder that the Covid-19 jab can keep you, your baby and your loved ones safe and out of hospital.’

PHE notes that ‘although the overall risk from Covid-19 disease in pregnant women and their new babies is low, in later pregnancy some women may become seriously unwell and need hospital treatment.

‘Pregnant women with Covid-19 have a higher risk of intensive care admission than women of the same age who are not pregnant.

‘Women with Covid-19 disease are also 2 to 3 times more likely to have their babies early than women without Covid-19.’

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