ObjectivesThe COVID-19 pandemic has seen unprecedented restrictions on face-to-face healthcare encounters. This has led to an increase in the use of online healthcare resources by service users. Pregnant women have always been a group particularly motivated to seek out information online. The objective of this study was to explore the experiences of mothers who were using an existing National Health Service social media based antenatal support service during the early stages of the UK COVID-19 lockdown.DesignA short online survey with four closed questions (scale response) and one open-ended free-text question was given to pregnant women who were using the online service 3 weeks after the start of the UK lockdown. Descriptive statistics are used to present the closed question data. Thematic analysis was applied to the free-text responses.Results320 women were sent the survey. 156 completed it (49% response rate). Participants provided information relating to frequency of use, information access, relative level of antenatal care and ease of contact. 105 (66%) participants completed the open-ended free-text question. Key themes to emerge related to: (1) information provision and verification; (2) managing and reducing feelings of isolation; (3) service specific issues, including crisis adaptations; and (4) impact on routine care.ConclusionsThe study suggests that that pregnant mothers found a social media based approach well positioned to provide antenatal care and support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Incidentally I have yet to meet a psychiatrist who did not prescribe phenobarbitone in some form for his cases. Needless to say the more severe forms of functional disability should be referred to an expert, though in many industrial areas psychiatrists are in very short supply. One can only hope that more psychiatric clinics will be set up in the near future. All this and more will no doubt be provided in Mr. Bevan's nationalized Utopia, which we are assured is just around the corner. Meanwhile the general practitioner will continue to give of his best to the neurotic patient. But ten hours a week No, Sir ! It just cannot be done.-I am, etc., Blackburn. T. J. BURKE.

Incidentally I have yet to meet a psychiatrist who did not prescribe phenobarbitone in some form for his cases. Needless to say the more severe forms of functional disability should be referred to an expert, though in many industrial areas psychiatrists are in very short supply. One can only hope that more psychiatric clinics will be set up in the near future. All this and more will no doubt be provided in Mr. Bevan's nationalized Utopia, which we are assured is just around the corner. Meanwhile the general practitioner will continue to give of his best to the neurotic patient. But ten hours a week No, Sir ! It just cannot be done.-I am, etc., Blackburn. T. J. BURKE.

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