Narrative Analysis of Childbearing Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted health care delivery and services around the world causing rapid changes to maternity care protocols and pregnant women to give birth with tight restrictions and significant uncertainties. There is a gap in evidence about expectant and new mothers' experiences with birthing during the pandemic. We sought to describe and understand pregnant and new mothers' lived experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic using authentic birth stories. Study Design and Methods: Using a narrative analysis framework, we extracted relevant YouTube birth stories using predetermined search terms and inclusion criteria. Mothers' birth stories were narrated in their second or third trimester or those who had recently given birth during the pandemic. Birth stories were analyzed using an inductive and deductive approach to capture different and salient aspects of the birthing experience. Results: N = 83 birth stories were analyzed. Within these birth stories, four broad themes and 13 subthemes were identified. Key themes included a sense of loss, hospital experiences, experiences with health care providers, and unique experiences during birth and postpartum. The birth stories revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic brought unexpected circumstances, both positive and negative, that had an impact on mothers' overall birthing experience. Clinical Implications: Results provided a detailed description of women's lived experience with giving birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maternity nurses should try to provide clear communication and compassionate patient-centered care to relieve women's anxieties about uncertain and unpredictable policy changes on COVID-19 as the pandemic continues to evolve.

Maternal mental health in Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic: a neglected global health issue

“…ernal me Globally, consistent findings have been reported concerning the impact of the pandemic on maternal mental health (3,(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)…”

“…using keywords -Table 1 to identify existing literature to map out the impact of the pandemic on maternal mental health in Africa. Not surprising; however, we found only fourtwo articles from On the other hand, Pandey (2020) in Ethiopia conducted a hospital-based analysis of 178 women seeking perinatal services using the general anxiety disorder (GAD -7) (15). In this study, the prevalence of general anxiety disorder was 32.2%-a higher rate than was found in China (7).…”

“…For example, pregnant women in Turkey reported lacking or conflicting information they received from their healthcare providers, not understanding the severity of the COVID-19 virus, or having to delay deliberately or without care because of fear of contracting the virus (14). Beyond these sources of negative emotional feelings, pregnant and new mothers from eight countries, namely: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Australia, Spain, Jamaica, and the Philippines, who shared their birth stories on YouTube during the pandemic, noted that they felt alone and had to self-advocate for E p u b a h e a d o f p r i n t appropriate care because they had no support during labor and delivery (15). This study also revealed that mothers with positive COVID-19 were delayed care because their nurses were afraid of getting infected.…”

“…Nonetheless, these findings notwithstanding, evidence demonstrates that there may be positive aspects of the pandemic among pregnant women and postpartum mothers. For example, some mothers who gave birth during the pandemic reported that the COVID-19 hospital policy restricting only one partner during labor and delivery described their birthing experience as peaceful (15).…”

Meeting the Mental Health Needs of College Student-Mothers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

“…In this study, elevated levels of depression (EPDS score > 13) were found in 40.7% of the women during the pandemic vs. 15% pre-pandemic. In addition, changes in obstetric guidelines and birth plans and worries about contracting the virus and its effect on the fetus among birthing people are associated with being stressed, worried, or anxious [14]. Moreover, maternal mental health disorders lead to negative lifelong consequences for mothers, infants, and families [12,13].…”