Pregnancy and Childbirth During the Covid-19 Epidemic in Poland: Qualitative Evidence From Expert Interviews.

Abstract

BackgroundThe Covid-19 outbreak has significantly altered the provisions and shape of medical services for expecting mothers worldwide. In Poland, the country where pregnancy and childbirth are subject to comparably greater medicalization, those shifts are particularly tangible. This study aimed at capturing the responses of the maternal health professionals, highlighting possible long-term implications for the expecting and new mothers, as well as the reproductive health sector. MethodsThis is a qualitative and rapid-response study which addresses the themes around the emerging implications of the viral outbreak. Semi-structured expert interviews were conducted with 46 individuals, all highly-skilled, working in either medical or adjacent sectors connected with reproductive medicine, as well as varied antenatal and postpartum care services. In this analysis, 7 digital experts were excluded as observers rather than field practitioners Among 39 interviews, 5 have been conducted with OB-GYNs, 13 with midwives, 7 with doulas, 14 broadly-conceived category of maternal support experts including psychologists and physiotherapists. The recorded data were input into thematic grids and meticulously transcribed prior to being subject to an inductive, thematic analysis. ResultsThe findings revealed that the context of the heightened medicalization of pregnancy and hospital care during birth in Poland, resulted in strong restrictions and immediate fall back to a clinical care model. The majority also claimed that the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated the implications of the decades of Polish maternal health recommendations contradicting the WHO regulations. Professionals’ anxieties concern limited access to services assisting women during pregnancies. While those linked to hospitals pointed out physiological risks, other maternal support experts drew attention to the effects of stress and uncertainty on maternal mental health. ConclusionsExperts believe that the pandemic will have multifaceted consequences. Negative impact on well-being of expecting and birthing mothers, as well as new-borns, is already observed and highly anticipated to increase further. The professionals underscore both the information chaos surrounding recommendations and procedures, and see the pandemic as a moment of reflection, mostly being vocal in their critiques of the over-medicalized Polish care model.

Novel Memories of Motherhood: Childbirth Lived Experiences of Mothers with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

“…4 In recent studies, maternal support experts drew attention to the effects of stress and psychological trauma on maternal health. 7 Because, the mental and physical health of women is an equally important aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic, understanding how to manage infection among pregnant women and infants is an immediate priority for perinatal care. 8,9 Although qualitative methods can play a pivotal role in understanding pandemics like COVID-19, limited research among pregnant women with COVID-19, has been published.…”