Experiences of Birth during COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy and Spain: A Thematic Analysis

Abstract

Becoming parents during the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a challenge. The purpose of this study was to describe the impact of the pandemic on new and expectant parents in both Italy and Spain. A descriptive qualitative study was carried out by collecting social media posts written by parents between March 2020 and April 2021. The posts were inserted in a data collection form and assessed separately by two authors. The coding was performed manually using the long table analysis method and a thematic analysis was performed. Three main themes were identified: (1) care; (2) overcoming difficulties and problem-solving strategies; and (3) legislation and anti-COVID-19 measures. The main issues for parents were the limited access of partners to antenatal care services and mother–newborn separation. Due to restrictive measures, many parents adopted different coping skills. Some hospitals were able to maintain high standards of care; however, a lot of discretion in legislation and the application of anti-COVID-19 measures in healthcare services was perceived by parents. The COVID-19 pandemic has heavily affected the way parents experienced pregnancy and birth. Becoming parents during the pandemic has exacerbated some fears that usually characterize this event, but it has also triggered new ones, especially in the first months.

Unveiling the intersection: exploring obstetric violence in the Era of COVID-19 in Ecuador

“…These challenges may have indirectly affected maternity care and potentially contributed to an increase in obstetric violence in some cases [ 9 ]. Some possible factors that could contribute to this increase include the restriction in the number of support persons or visitors allowed during childbirth [ 21 , 22 ]. This policy was implemented to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission but may have resulted in women feeling unsupported or experiencing mistreatment.…”

“…Fear of healthcare workers being infected by COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the quality of medical care in maternal health such as shortage of the personnel involved in the assistance of pregnant women [ 23 , 24 ]. The pandemic has instilled a sense of apprehension and anxiety among pregnant women who are understandably concerned about their own health and the well-being of their unborn babies [ 21 , 22 ]. This fear has resulted in avoidance of seeking timely and necessary medical care, including prenatal visits and hospital admissions for labor and birth [ 25 ].…”

Verletzte Geburtsintegrität während der COVID-19-Pandemie in Deutschland: Erfahrungen von Gebärenden mit der geburtshilflichen Versorgung

“…Beschreibt eine Frau ihre Geburt rückblickend als traumatisch, so kann dies als Indikator für verletzte Geburtsintegrität gedeutet werden. Mit diesem Ergebnis reiht unsere Studie sich in Erkenntnisse aus europäischen Nachbarländern [33][34][35] und den Vereinigten Staaten [36] ein. Die Limitierung der Begleitpersonen war von Beginn der Pandemie an eine der umstrittensten, aber auch am konsequentesten umgesetzten Maßnahmen in geburtshilflichen Einrichtungen.…”

“She helped from the first minute to the last” – experiences of respectful maternal and newborn care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nampula Province, Mozambique

“…Restrictions on partner access during childbirth were observed in Ireland, Italy, and Spain. (6, 7) Clients perceived receiving lower quality of care in Spain and reported lower childbirth satisfaction in the United States of America during the pandemic compared to clients pre-pandemic. (8, 9) There was an increased use of obstetric interventions reported in Canada and Italy.…”