D epression and anxiety in the population related to fear, uncertainty, isolation, and economic distress have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. A 2020 cross-Canada study found that 24.3% of younger adult women reported feeling depressed occasionally or most of the time in the past week, significantly higher than 18.9% of men (CAMH [Centre for Addiction and Mental Health], 2020). This is perhaps in part a reflection of the fact that these women are in their reproductive years. Women who are pregnant or postpartum have an increased risk of developing a depression or anxiety disorder. Pregnancy during this pandemic brings an added number of stressors (Durankuş and Aksu, 2020;Lebel et al., 2020;Liu et al., 2020).A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that pregnant women are especially vulnerable to getting more seriously ill or dying with COVID-19 (CDC 2020). This information increases women's fears for themselves and their babies. Fortunately, it does not seem as if there is an increased risk of fetal malformation if the mother has COVID-19. There does seem to be an increase in premature deliveries in women with COVID-19 (12.6%) (Delahoy et al., 2020). The risk of transmitting COVID-19 to the fetus does not seem to be high. There have been few documented cases of women with COVID-19 having babies with COVID-19, and in these cases, it is not clear whether the baby acquired COVID-19 from the mother in utero, through breastfeeding, or by other transmission. Regardless, babies who developed this tend to have mild symptoms. Nevertheless, this kind of concern puts added pressure on women and, in particular, on women of color who already grapple with social and health care inequalities. If they have jobs that require them to leave the house, they are increasingly anxious. Many quit their jobs to stay at home to be safer (Forbes, 2020), but not all women have this option. If their partners are still leaving the house to work, their anxiety is increased. Fear of attending obstetrical appointments can lead to inadequate prenatal care. They often feel quite isolated, unable to see family or friends during a time when they would like more support.Pregnant and breastfeeding women are unsure about getting vaccinations for COVID-19. Although the CDC and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) have provided guidelines for getting these vaccines during pregnancy, there is lack of reassuring data to support decision making because pregnant women were excluded from trials (ACOG, 2020; CDC, 2021) In addition, international health care organizations varied in their recommendations. In the United Kingdom, the National Health Service initially warned against vaccination in pregnant women and recommended a delay in conception until 2 months after vaccination. After a lot of advocacy (BMJ Blogs, 2021), they reversed their decision, advising that pregnant and breastfeeding women could be vaccinated (NHS, 2021). This initial censure against the COVID-19 vaccines may have left m...
