Health Trusts in Northern Ireland have confirmed an increased number of Covid-19 cases among maternity patients.
The Northern and Belfast Trusts said in some cases pre-term delivery of babies has been arranged and some pregnant women with the virus have been put on ventilators.
A senior maternity manager in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust said in the past few weeks, there has been an increase in pregnant women being treated for Covid-19.
It has launched a pop-up vaccination clinic for pregnant women in a drive to encourage them to get the vaccine.
The Belfast Trust said in the past week it has treated 12 pregnant patients who have tested positive.
RTÉ News understands none of the women who tested positive were vaccinated.
The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust added pregnant women with the virus are having to be ventilated, with the majority being hospitalised in their third trimester.
It comes as the Royal College of Midwives urged expectant mothers to get vaccinated.
The RCM said there are increasing numbers of pregnant women in the UK being admitted to hospital with serious illness, almost all of whom are unvaccinated.
The Maternity Outpatient Manager with the Northern Health Trust said some babies have had to be delivered prematurely to optimise the breathing of their mothers, who were positive for Covid-19.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Louisa Lapworth said the numbers were low, but "certainly over the last few weeks we have seen ladies unvaccinated and require support."
Regarding the vaccination of pregnant women, she said in Northern Ireland the focus had initially been on higher risk maternity patients, but the advice has changed in recent weeks and now they are giving the vaccine to all pregnant women.
Ms Lapworth said they are "strongly encouraging" women to get vaccinated, saying they should speak to health professionals and look at the evidence and make an informed choice.
"As a midwife this is what we do with all maternity care."
Reporting: Una Kelly
