The impact of COVID-19 restrictions on women's pregnancy and postpartum experience in England: A qualitative exploration

Riley, Victoria; Ellis, Naomi; Mackay, Lorna; Taylor, Jennifer

doi:10.1016/j.midw.2021.103061

Cited by 41 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The results match prior qualitative research that "COVID-19 changed the whole experience". In a recent study from England, the researchers reported that most women were able to have positive birth experiences even if the situation was affected by COVID-19, indicating resilience [35]. Nevertheless, patients have difficulties dealing with objective isolation and feeling isolated in a vulnerable situation [35].…”

Section: How Do the Covid-19 Restriction Rules Affect All Phases Of P...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a recent study from England, the researchers reported that most women were able to have positive birth experiences even if the situation was affected by COVID-19, indicating resilience [35]. Nevertheless, patients have difficulties dealing with objective isolation and feeling isolated in a vulnerable situation [35]. Especially when experiencing health care discrimination due to COVID-19, levels of postpartum stress and mental health issues are increased [36].…”

Section: How Do the Covid-19 Restriction Rules Affect All Phases Of P...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Birthing under the Condition of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: Interviews with Mothers, Partners, and Obstetric Health Care Workers

Schmiedhofer

Dietl

Häussler³

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and the necessary containment measures challenge obstetric care. Support persons were excluded while protection measures burdened and disrupted the professionals’ ability to care and communicate. The objective of this study was to explore the first-hand experience of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mothers, their partners, and obstetric professionals regarding birth and obstetric care in a university hospital. Methods: To answer the descriptive research questions, we conducted a qualitative content analysis using a data triangulation approach. We carried out 35 semi-structured interviews with two stratified purposive samples. Sample one consisted of 25 mothers who had given birth during the pandemic and five partners. Sample two included 10 obstetric professionals whose insights complemented the research findings and contributed to data validation. Participants were recruited from the study sample of a larger project on patient safety from two German university hospitals from February to August 2021. The study was approved by two ethics committees and informed consent was obtained. Results: Mothers complied with the rules, but felt socially isolated and insecure, especially before transfer to the delivery room. The staff equally reported burdens from their professional perspective: They tried to make up for the lack of partner and social contacts but could not live up to their usual professional standards. The exclusion of partners was seen critically, but necessary to contain the pandemic. The undisturbed time for bonding in the maternity ward was considered positive by both mothers and professionals. Conclusion: The negative effects of risk mitigation measures on childbirth are to be considered carefully when containment measures are applied.

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Section: How Do the Covid-19 Restriction Rules Affect All Phases Of P...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: How Do the Covid-19 Restriction Rules Affect All Phases Of P...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Birthing under the Condition of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: Interviews with Mothers, Partners, and Obstetric Health Care Workers

Schmiedhofer

Dietl

Häussler³

et al. 2022

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Navigating uncertainty alone therefore extended to the early days of parenting. In common with other studies [50] , [51] , women regretted the lack of opportunity to introduce their baby to the wider family and friends. However, there were unexpected advantages: ‘Navigation’ implies new parents were finding their way, and this was illustrated by counterbalancing themes identified.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

“…It was not until 1 st June 2020 that people could ‘get together’, but this was only outdoors in groups of up to six. This meant women were not able to access their usual support networks and they often felt isolated [12] , [22] , [44] , [50] . Navigating uncertainty alone therefore extended to the early days of parenting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Navigating uncertainty alone: A grounded theory analysis of women’s psycho-social experiences of pregnancy and childbirth during the COVID-19 pandemic in London

Montgomery¹,

Backer²,

Easter³

et al. 2023

Women and Birth

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“…Pregnant and postpartum women are vulnerable to COVID-19 [ 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Many mothers increased their time for childcaring but had greater stress (42%) and increased frustration (50%) [ 19 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal Mental Health under COVID-19 Pandemic in Thailand

Sirikul

Ongprasert

Piankusol

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Numerous nations have implemented lockdown measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a consequence of the lockdown on daily living, social participation, and health service accessibility, vulnerable people, for example, new mothers, may experience an increase in mental health problems. This cross-sectional survey was conducted to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on Thai new mothers and the variables affecting their mental health. The survey data were collected from 903 Thai mothers with infants aged 0–12 months using an online platform and a face-to-face interview questionnaire survey between 17 July and 17 October 2020, during the first nationwide COVID-19 lockdown period. For the final analysis, there were 862 participants who completed all of the questions. The full exploratory analysis was performed by multivariable linear regression to identify the variables influencing maternal mental health. Our study demonstrated that new mothers reported feeling a high extent to some extent of worry (44.9%), increased appetite (40.4%), becoming easily annoyed or irritable (39.1%), and feeling down (33.5%), whereas 82.7% felt able to cope with the first lockdown situation. Practiced relaxation techniques were associated with positive maternal mental health (adjusted β = 1.05, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.52, p < 0.001). The perceived impact of the COVID-19 lockdown was on the household’s ability to pay for rent, to make mortgage payments (adjusted β = −1.59, 95% CI −2.87 to −0.36, p = 0.011), the household’s ability to pay for other essentials, such as utilities and medication (adjusted β = −1.99, 95% CI −3.16 to −0.81, p = 0.001), household crowding after lockdown (adjusted β = −3.46, 95% CI −4.86 to −2.06, p < 0.001), and not going outside or doing outdoor activities (adjusted β = −2.22, 95% CI −3.35 to −1.08, p < 0.001). These impacts were significantly associated with negative mental health. In conclusion, our results emphasize the critical need for continuous monitoring of maternal mental health and developing an effective response strategy and activity for promoting maternal mental health under the stress of repetitive lockdowns and increased economic pressures.

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The impact of COVID-19 restrictions on women's pregnancy and postpartum experience in England: A qualitative exploration

Cited by 41 publications

References 32 publications

Birthing under the Condition of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: Interviews with Mothers, Partners, and Obstetric Health Care Workers

Birthing under the Condition of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: Interviews with Mothers, Partners, and Obstetric Health Care Workers

Navigating uncertainty alone: A grounded theory analysis of women’s psycho-social experiences of pregnancy and childbirth during the COVID-19 pandemic in London

Maternal Mental Health under COVID-19 Pandemic in Thailand

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