Giving birth under hospital visitor restrictions: Heightened acute stress in childbirth in COVID-19 positive women

Abstract

As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has spread globally, a significant portion of women have undergone childbirth while possibly infected with the virus and also under social isolation due to hospital visitor restrictions. Emerging studies examined birth outcomes in COVID-19 positive women, but knowledge of the psychological experience of childbirth remains lacking. This study survey concerning childbirth and mental health launched during the first wave of the pandemic in the US. Women reporting confirmed/suspected COVID-19 during childbirth were matched on various background factors with women reporting COVID-19 negative. We found higher prevalence of clinically significant acute stress in birth in COVID-19 positive women. This group was 11 times as likely to have no visitors than matched controls and reported higher levels of pain in delivery, lower newborn weights, and more infant admission to neonatal intensive care units. Visitor restrictions were associated with these birth outcomes. COVID-19 positive women with no visitors were 6 times as likely to report clinical acute stress in birth than COVID-19 positive women with visitors. The findings underscore increased risk for childbirth-induced psychological morbidity in COVID-19-affected populations. As hospitals continue to revise policies concerning visitor restrictions, attention to the wellbeing of new mothers is warranted.

Parental experiences with changes in maternity care during the Covid-19 pandemic: A mixed-studies systematic review

“…The majority of the studies were conducted in Europe (n=23), followed by North America (USA and Canada, n=17), then Asia (n=7), and Oceania (Australia, n=4). Seven were international studies that were conducted across three to 64 countries [30] , [35] , [36] , [37] , [38] , [39] , [40] . This review encapsulates the experiences and views of 107 support partners and 65,543 pregnant and postpartum women who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on birth satisfaction in a prospective cohort of 2,341 U.S. women

“…In conclusion, some of these limitations may affect the generalisability of the findings and therefore, additional research in various cultural contexts and study designs is recommended. Finally, more research should be conducted to explore the birth experiences of COVID-19 positive women who likely experienced greater isolation, unmet expectations, and more stress during pregnancy and while giving birth [ 42 , 46 ].…”

“…Support and council should be offered to women who had adverse events during birth or who had a different birth than preferred, especially since the negative effects of unplanned operative deliveries on birth satisfaction can linger for many years. A recent study found increased incidents of acute stress when comparing COVID-19 positive women who had visitor restrictions and those who did not [ 42 , 46 ]. Therefore, special attention should be given to women who have an infectious condition during birth and might be adversely affected by hospital restrictions.…”

Empfehlungen zu SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 in Schwangerschaft, Geburt und Wochenbett – Update November 2021 (Kurzfassung)

“…Bereits in der ersten deutschen Empfehlung vom März 2020 wird die Begleitung der Kreißenden durch eine Vertrauensperson unterstützt [6,60,61]. Das Verwehren von Unterstützung durch Begleitpersonen erhöht dabei nachweislich die mütterliche Stressbelastung unter der Geburt [62].…”