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

The antenatal psychological experiences of women during two phases of the COVID-19 pandemic: A recurrent, cross-sectional, thematic analysis

“…Current findings add to the substantial body of literature demonstrating that untailored social distancing legislation has had dire consequences for the mental health of pregnant women. Although social distancing and ‘lockdown’ measures have been found in certain circumstances to provide time and space for bonding between parents and newborns [ 74 ], the findings from this study offer additional considerations for policy and practice so to better protect perinatal mental health during times of unprecedented national strain. Telephone and virtual (e.g., Zoom) interviewing allowed for nationwide participation.…”

“…Despite initial enthusiasm for participation, recruitment for both timepoints proved onerous, and with the relative unpredictability of birth, some women had to be included into their early postpartum and retrospectively reflect on their antenatal experiences, which could have introduced bias into the results. Nuances exist between these populations with regards to the effects of social distancing restrictions e.g., prohibition of partners from maternity suites versus pregnancy scans [ 34 , 74 ], pregnant women initially being advised to shield due to their perceived vulnerability [ 18 ]. Our sample was also–on the whole–highly educated, something noted in much on-line research, and may affect generalisability.…”

A consensus statement on perinatal mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and recommendations for post-pandemic recovery and re-build

“…Echoing these findings, an analysis of qualitative data from women recruited to The King's Together Fund Changing Maternity Care Study identified tensions between good and poor practices, which affected perinatal psycho-social wellbeing ( 28 ). Results included dyadic pairs of experiences as women struggled to navigate the uncertainties of the pandemic and pregnancy, alone.…”

“…Results included dyadic pairs of experiences as women struggled to navigate the uncertainties of the pandemic and pregnancy, alone. The dyadic pairs included the following: “lack of relational care vs. good practice persisting during the pandemic”; “denying the embodied experience of pregnancy and birth vs. trying to keep everyone safe”; and “removed from support network vs. importance of being at home as a family” ( 28 ). Consistent with other PIVOT-AL works, the realities of maternity care were disappointing compared with expectations and experiences before the pandemic, which exacerbated distress ( 28 ).…”

“…The dyadic pairs included the following: “lack of relational care vs. good practice persisting during the pandemic”; “denying the embodied experience of pregnancy and birth vs. trying to keep everyone safe”; and “removed from support network vs. importance of being at home as a family” ( 28 ). Consistent with other PIVOT-AL works, the realities of maternity care were disappointing compared with expectations and experiences before the pandemic, which exacerbated distress ( 28 ). The lack of access to relational care, the introduction of telemedicine and reliance on virtual appointments, and the exclusion of partners from routine care were particularly challenging for emotional wellbeing.…”