Experience of Management and Birth in the Context of the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective:Knowing the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the gestational experience, with attention to coping strategies. Methodology: This is a field study, exploratory, descriptive and with a qualitative approach, which used the references of Symbolic Interactionism and Bardin's Content Analysis. Developed in a municipality in the interior of São Paulo, between February and March 2021, with 12 women who gave birth and gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were selected using the Snowball method, and empirical data were obtained through semistructured interviews on a digital platform. Results: The thematic categories 'Pregnancy and childbirth in the COVID-19 pandemic: symbols and meanings' , 'Pregnancy and childbirth in the COVID-19 pandemic: broken expectations and 'Scope of health care in pregnancy and childbirth in the COVID-19 pandemic' , where it was possible to identify the conditions involved in the experience of pregnancy and childbirth. Final considerations: Experiences in social relationships, especially those with the family, are indispensable. Thus, the relational skills of professionals to deal with the difficulties experienced by pregnant and parturient women during the pandemic were incipient, highlighting the importance of obstetrical nursing in supporting women in contexts of social isolation.