Technologies
COVID raises risk of stillbirth, new research finds. What to know about vaccines during pregnancy
Here’s what we know about COVID-19 boosters, fertility and more.
In September, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended «urgent action» be taken to get pregnant people, and those who want to be pregnant in the future, vaccinated against COVID-19. The alert was issued after mounting evidence demonstrated how COVID-19 affected the outcomes of pregnancy and the overall health of the pregnant person. As of mid-September, only 31% of pregnant people were vaccinated against COVID-19 — a much lower rate than the general US adult population — but they had a 70% increased risk of dying from symptomatic COVID-19 compared to people who weren’t pregnant.
Now, research is showing that pregnant people with COVID-19 have a higher risk of their baby being stillborn, according to a November report by the CDC. While the overall rate of stillbirths was low from March 2020 to September 2021, people who had COVID-19 during their delivery had a 1.26% chance of stillbirth, compared to people without COVID-19 at .64% — roughly double the risk. This risk was even higher, the CDC said, during the months the delta variant was circulating.
The CDC, along with other organizations that serve pregnant people such as the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine have all issued recommendations that pregnant people get vaccinated against COVID-19. This is because research available during the pandemic shows that COVID-19 vaccines are safe for pregnant people, breastfeeding parents and people who may consider pregnancy in the future.
The World Health Organization says COVID-19 vaccines approved by the WHO (which include Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson) can be taken by people who are on their period (menstruating), pregnant, planning to get pregnant and breastfeeding.
But advice for pregnant people trying to make decisions about vaccines hasn’t always been so strong. Pregnant people are often left out of medical studies, so when vaccines initially became available to protect against COVID-19, those who were pregnant were absent from the early studies on coronavirus shots. While the COVID-19 pandemic has shone some light on pregnant and breastfeeding people’s age-old status as «vulnerable,» the lack of data collected about pregnancy in the clinical trials of all three of the vaccines available in the US may have left you sifting through conflicting advice on how best to protect you and your child. As new data emerges and illustrates how pregnancy increases risk of COVID-19 disease for parents, which also puts their child at risk, here’s what we know about COVID-19 vaccines and boosters in pregnancy.
I’m pregnant. Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
The CDC made its official recommendation in August that, yes, pregnant people, breastfeeding people and those who want to be pregnant in the future should get a COVID-19 vaccine. The ACOG and SMFM also recommended COVID vaccines for pregnant people at the end of July after reports from «tens of thousands» demonstrated the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy.
Other vaccines are recommended or offered during pregnancy. Some vaccines, for other diseases, aren’t recommended for pregnant people because they contain (very small amounts) of a live virus. None of the coronavirus vaccines available in the US use a live virus.
Do I need a booster if I’m fully vaccinated and pregnant?
Boosters are authorized for all adults in the US, including pregnant people (as long as you’re 18 years or older). You may get a shot at least six months after your second Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or at least two months after your Johnson & Johnson shot, according to CDC guidance. You can get any COVID-19 vaccine available in the US as a booster if you prefer to switch brands for any reason.
Read more: How to choose a booster: What to know about mixing coronavirus vaccines
The CDC guidance for the general adult population leaves the decision on whether to boost up to the individual. However, pregnant people were actually eligible for boosters before the general public because pregnancy, or being recently pregnant, makes someone more susceptible to severe COVID-19. The ACOG, which gives guidance to pregnant individuals and their providers, recommends boosters for people who are fully vaccinated and pregnant or up to six weeks postpartum. The SMFM also recommends boosters for pregnant individuals at least six months after their second shot (or two months after, for people who received Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine).
What are the side effects of the vaccine for pregnant people?
Preliminary data on about 35,000 pregnant people who were vaccinated and volunteered information through the V-safe program shows that pregnant people have the same vaccine side effects as nonpregnant people — temporary injection pain in the arm, fatigue, headache, muscle aches and fever.
However, it’s important to note that fever from any cause has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, and the CDC recommends pregnant people who experience fever after vaccination take acetaminophen to lower their body temperature.
Why are pregnant people at a high risk of COVID-19?
In May, CNET talked to Dr. Ella Speichinger, an OB-GYN at University of Missouri Health Care. She said it isn’t exactly known why pregnant people are at a higher risk, but that it may be because pregnant people’s immune systems are naturally depressed so their bodies don’t reject the growing fetus, or because pregnancy could alter the body’s way of mounting an immune response to COVID-19.
«I’ve had many patients who have had COVID while they were pregnant, and they’ve been just fine,» she said. «But there have definitely been severe cases where patients had to get delivered early because they could no longer oxygenate their fetus.»
In these cases, Speichinger said the patients usually improved after giving birth, but that it was delayed. It’s also impossible to know who will have a bad reaction to COVID-19 while pregnant.
«It’s really unclear who of the healthy pregnant cohorts is going to be the one that gets sick,» she said.
I’m skeptical of the vaccine. What are the risks of getting COVID-19 while pregnant?
Pregnant and recently pregnant people are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, including death, according to the CDC, and they’re also at increased risk for preterm delivery (birth before 37 weeks) and other adverse pregnancy outcomes including stillbirth. Other health factors of the pregnant person, including a high BMI, diabetes or heart conditions, may elevate this risk, according to the SMFM.
Although there is information available now about how risky COVID-19 can be for pregnant people, that wasn’t necessarily the case at the beginning of the pandemic, and pregnant people were not highlighted specifically as «high risk.» Speichinger said that is likely because people who get pregnant are usually generally healthy and under age 40.
During what trimester should I get the vaccine?
Scientists who looked at people who got vaccinated earlier than 20 weeks pregnant didn’t find an increased risk of miscarriage compared to those who didn’t, according to a report from the V-safe pregnancy registry. Earlier data that was available reflected vaccination during the later stages of pregnancy.
Some people holding out on getting vaccinated during the first trimester may be due to the naturally high rate of miscarriage in the first three months, and patients being more cautious because of that. About 10% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, according to the ACOG, but the risk also increases with age. About 80% of miscarriages happen in the first trimester.
«Most people feel concerned in the first trimester because there’s such a high risk of miscarriage in general,» Speichinger said. «Conflating the miscarriage with vaccine administration is what leads to vaccine hesitancy in the first trimester.»
Research shows that parents vaccinated during the third trimester of pregnancy may pass antibodies onto their newborns.
What if I’m breastfeeding?
«If a woman is uncomfortable doing it while pregnant, I absolutely think getting it while she’s breastfeeding is a good idea,» Speichinger said. «Because all of those antibodies can then cross through to the milk and protect baby while the mom is still producing those antibodies.»
There’s not enough data to show how long that protection lasts, but the CDC reports that breastfeeding people who have received an mRNA vaccine produce COVID-19 antibodies in their breast milk. In a small study on lactating health care workers who received a mRNA vaccine while breastfeeding, researchers from the University of Florida found that their breast milk had a «significant» amount of antibodies.
In its latest report, the CDC made a strong recommendation that breastfeeding people and those who were recently pregnant get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Does the vaccine type matter?
Moderna and Pfizer’s are mRNA vaccines, which use a new technology that delivers instructions to our immune systems on how to make protective proteins. Johnson & Johnson’s, the third vaccine available for emergency use in the US, uses viral vector technology by delivering a harmless virus into our bodies that triggers an immune response. Viral vector vaccines, notably the Ebola vaccine, have been studied in pregnant and breastfeeding people with no adverse effects found, according to the CDC.
The early research available now shows that mRNA vaccines are safe for pregnant women, and that miscarriage rates among women who received a COVID-19 vaccine are similar to miscarriage rates of women who didn’t get vaccinated. In a V-safe survey of 827 pregnant women who got a COVID-19 vaccine, about 14% experienced pregnancy loss — within the range that is naturally expected.
After the Food and Drug Administration lifted the pause that had been placed on Johnson & Johnson after reports of blood clots (the CDC identified 28 cases out of 8.7 million people vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson, the majority of them in women), the CDC issued a statement that women under age 50 should be aware of their increased risk of this still rare, but serious form of blood clots, and consider the other vaccines that don’t carry this risk. Given the demographic of the blood-clotting risk, Speichinger said her bias would steer her pregnant patients toward a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
«I still think the risk is exceedingly rare compared to the complications of COVID,» she said. «But if you had a choice, I would pick one of the other two.»
I want to be pregnant in the future. Will the COVID-19 vaccine make me infertile?
The fear people have regarding their fertility and vaccination isn’t exclusive to the COVID-19 vaccine. The specific fear about infertility and COVID-19 vaccines stems from a now-debunked post on Facebook that claimed the vaccine would make pregnant people’s bodies attack a protein needed for placenta formation in early pregnancy, because, it asserted, the spike protein in the COVID-19 vaccine is «similar.» Experts have disproved this, saying that not only do the two proteins have «almost nothing in common,» but even if they did, infection with COVID-19 would have the same outcome. There is no research to suggest people who have had COVID-19 will have a more difficult time getting pregnant, and many have since the beginning of the pandemic. If you’d like more information about COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy, Dr. Danielle Jones, an OB-GYN who is also known as «Mama Doctor Jones» on TikTok, shared this video on YouTube debunking myths about COVID-19 vaccines and infertility, miscarriage and pregnancy.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
Technologies
Say Goodbye to Awful Cell Signal With These 10 Simple Fixes
These quick tricks can help you get better reception almost instantly.
Summer road trips are all about open roads, good company, and spontaneous detours. That is, until your phone loses service and the whole plan comes to a screeching halt. Whether it’s your GPS freezing mid-route, your music app buffering endlessly, or being unable to call for roadside help, poor cell reception can turn a carefree adventure into a frustrating mess. These dead zones tend to show up in the worst spots: backroads, mountain passes, or just that one stretch of highway where nothing seems to work.
Fortunately, you don’t need a new phone or a major tech upgrade to fix spotty service. There are several simple tricks you can try to get better signal on the go. From changing your network settings to repositioning your phone in the car for better line-of-sight, these small adjustments can make a noticeable difference. Whether you’re driving across state lines or just heading out for the weekend, these tips can help you stay connected and keep your trip running smoothly.
Whether you’re doing some routine phone maintenance or you’re stuck in an emergency, there are multiple ways to improve your reception on an iPhone or Android phone, no matter what type of phone plan you’re on. It might even come down to something as simple as toggling Airplane mode.
To go from dropped calls to full bars, here’s what you need to know. For more on iPhone and iOS, check out everything Apple announced at WWDC 2025.
Note: Although software across different iPhone models is relatively the same, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel and other Android phones may have different software versions, so certain settings and where they are located might differ depending on device.
For more, check out how you can use Google Maps when you’re offline and how you can maybe fix your internet when it’s down.
To improve your cellphone service, try these steps first
The settings on your phone can help you get better cell service, but there are other tricks for improving your reception without even touching your phone’s software.
- Move yourself so that there are no obstructions between your phone and any cell towers outside. That might involve stepping away from metal objects or concrete walls, which both kill reception. Instead, get to a window or go outside if possible.
- Remove your phone case. It doesn’t hurt to remove whatever case you have on your phone, especially if it’s thick, so that the phone’s antenna isn’t blocked by anything and can get a better signal.
- Make sure your phone is charged. Searching for and connecting to a stronger signal drains power, so if your phone battery is already low on charge, you may have a difficult time getting good service.
Always start by turning Airplane mode on and off
Turning your phone’s connection off and then back on is the quickest and easiest way to try and fix your signal woes. If you’re moving around from one location to another, toggling Airplane mode restarts the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular network modems, which forces them to find the best signal in the area.
Android: Swipe down from the top of your screen — to access the Quick Settings panel — and then tap the Airplane mode icon. Wait for your phone to completely disconnect from its Wi-Fi and cellular connections. It doesn’t happen instantly, so give it a good 15 seconds before you tap on the Airplane mode icon again.
iPhone: On the iPhone, you can access Airplane mode from the Control Center, but that varies depending on which iPhone model you have. On the iPhone X and later, swipe down from the top-right corner to access the Control Center. On older iPhone models, swipe up from the bottom of the screen. Then tap the Airplane mode icon, which will turn orange when it’s enabled. Again, wait up to 15 seconds before turning it off.
If Airplane mode doesn’t work, restart your phone
Our phones are miniature computers, and just like computers, sometimes you can fix issues like network connection by simply restarting them.
Android: Hold down the power button, or the power button and the volume down key (depending on your Android phone), until the on-screen menu shows up, and then tap Restart. If your phone doesn’t offer a restart option, you can simply tap Power Off to shut down your device, and then boot it back up with the power button.
iPhone: On the iPhone X and older models, hold down the sleep/wake button and either one of the volume buttons and then swipe right on the power slider to turn off the device. Wait until it fully turns off, then press down on the sleep/wake button to turn it back on.
Alternatively, you can do a force reset on your iPhone: Press the volume up button, followed by the volume down button and then press and hold the side button. Keep holding it in, after your phone’s screen goes black and until you see the Apple logo appear again.
If your iPhone has a home button, hold down the sleep/wake button until the power slider is displayed and then drag the slider to the right. Once the device is turned off, press and hold the sleep/wake button until you see the Apple logo.
Older phone? Take your SIM card out
Another troubleshooting step that might help is to remove your SIM card, if your phone has one, and then place it back in with the phone turned on. If the SIM card is dirty, clean it. If it has any physical defects, you may need to replace it.
You’ll need a SIM card tool — usually included in your phone’s box — or an unfolded paper clip or sewing needle to get the SIM tray out of your phone.
All phones: Remove the SIM card, check to see if it’s damaged and positioned in the SIM tray correctly, then put it back in your phone.
eSIM: For phones with an eSIM — that is, an embedded electronic SIM in your phone — there’s nothing for you to remove. The best you can do is restart your phone.
Check your carrier settings (and update your software)
Mobile carriers frequently send out carrier settings updates to help improve connectivity for calls, data and messages on their network. Although this feature is available on all iPhone models, it’s not universal on Android, so you might not find carrier settings if you don’t have a supported phone.
iPhone: Carrier updates should just appear, and you can update from the pop-up message that appears. To force your iPhone to check for a carrier settings update, go to Settings > General > About on your phone. If an update is available, you’ll be prompted to install it.
Android: As mentioned before, not all Android phones have carrier settings, so you’ll have to open the Settings app and type in «carrier settings» to find any possible updates. On supported Pixels, go to Settings > Network & internet > Internet, tap the gear next to your carrier name and then tap Carrier settings versions.
Reset your phone’s network settings
Sometimes all you need is a clean slate to fix an annoying connectivity issue. Refreshing your phone’s network settings is one way to do that. But be forewarned, resetting your network settings will also reset any saved Wi-Fi passwords, VPN connections and custom APN settings for those on carriers that require additional setup.
Android: In the Settings app, search for «reset» or more specifically «reset network settings» and tap on the setting. On the Pixel, the setting is called Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth. After you reset your network settings, remember to reconnect your phone to your home and work Wi-Fi networks.
iPhone: Go to Settings > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network settings. The next page will warn you that resetting your network settings will reset your settings for Wi-Fi, mobile data and Bluetooth. Tap Reset Network Settings and your phone will restart.
Contact your phone carrier
Sometimes unexpected signal issues can be traced back to problems with your wireless carrier. A cell tower could be down, or the tower’s fiber optic cable could have been cut, causing an outage.
For consistent problems connecting to or staying connected to a cellular or data network, it’s possible your carrier’s coverage doesn’t extend well into your neighborhood.
Other times, a newfound signal issue can be due to a defect with your phone or a SIM card that’s gone bad. Contacting your carrier to begin troubleshooting after you’ve tried these fixes is the next best step to resolving your spotty signal.
If all else fails, try a signal booster to improve cell reception
If after going through all of our troubleshooting steps, including talking to your carrier to go over your options, you’re still struggling to keep a good signal — try a booster. A signal booster receives the same cellular signal your carrier uses, then amplifies it just enough to provide coverage in a room or your entire house.
The big downside here is the cost. Wilson has three different boosters designed for home use, ranging in price from $349 for single room coverage to $999 to cover your entire home. To be clear, we haven’t specifically tested these models. Wilson offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a two-year warranty should you have any trouble with its products.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Aug. 24 #539
Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for Aug. 24, No. 539.
Looking for the most recent Strands answers? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Today’s NYT Strands puzzle is a tough one. Long words, short words, they’re all over the map. If you need hints and answers, read on.
I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strands theme is: Plug your ears.
If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Check the decibel level.
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:
- BLAST, LAST, LABS, TING, STING, BOOT, DENT, DENTS, GOON, NITS, SIRE, STIR, RISE, ROSE
Answers for today’s Strands puzzle
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
- LOUD, NOISY, BOOMING, BLASTING, STRIDENT, BOISTEROUS
Today’s Strands spangram
Today’s Strands spangram is HUBBUB. To find it, look for the H that’s five letters down on the far-right row, and wind backwards.
Toughest Strands puzzles
Here are some of the Strands topics I’ve found to be the toughest in recent weeks.
#1: Dated slang, Jan. 21. Maybe you didn’t even use this lingo when it was cool. Toughest word: PHAT.
#2: Thar she blows! Jan.15. I guess marine biologists might ace this one. Toughest word: BALEEN or RIGHT.
#3: Off the hook, Jan. 9. Similar to the Jan. 15 puzzle in that it helps to know a lot about sea creatures. Sorry, Charlie. Toughest word: BIGEYE or SKIPJACK
Technologies
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Sunday, Aug. 24
Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Aug. 24.
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Today’s Mini Crossword cites one of my favorite childhood shows in 6-Across. Hint: Think of a red-headed comedian who was famous for tugging her ear and for some classic commercial parodies — and who is still with us at age 92. Need answers for today’s NYT Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Perch for a family photo
Answer: SHELF
6A clue: Burnett with a variety show from 1967 to 1978
Answer: CAROL
7A clue: Plant that yields mezcal
Answer: AGAVE
8A clue: Deceptive ploys
Answer: RUSES
9A clue: «You’ve gotta be kidding me!»
Answer: YEESH
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: How a leap of faith might feel
Answer: SCARY
2D clue: Dutch seat of government, with «The»
Answer: HAGUE
3D clue: What many pencils can do that magic markers can’t
Answer: ERASE
4D clue: Holds dear
Answer: LOVES
5D clue: _ and blood (kin)
Answer: FLESH
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