Giving birth in a pandemic: women’s birth experiences in England during COVID-19
Abstract Background Expectant parents worldwide have experienced changes in the way they give birth as a result of COVID-19, including restrictions relating to access to birthing units and the presence of birthing partners during the birth, and changes to birth plans. This paper reports the experien...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-022-04637-8 |
| _version_ | 1819210095857238016 |
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| author | Ezra Aydin Kevin A. Glasgow Staci M. Weiss Zahra Khan Topun Austin Mark H. Johnson Jane Barlow Sarah Lloyd-Fox |
| author_facet | Ezra Aydin Kevin A. Glasgow Staci M. Weiss Zahra Khan Topun Austin Mark H. Johnson Jane Barlow Sarah Lloyd-Fox |
| author_sort | Ezra Aydin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Expectant parents worldwide have experienced changes in the way they give birth as a result of COVID-19, including restrictions relating to access to birthing units and the presence of birthing partners during the birth, and changes to birth plans. This paper reports the experiences of women in England. Methods Data were obtained from both closed- and open-ended responses collected as part of the national COVID in Context of Pregnancy, Infancy and Parenting (CoCoPIP) Study online survey (n = 477 families) between 15th July 2020 – 29th March 2021. Frequency data are presented alongside the results of a sentiment analysis; the open-ended data was analysed thematically. Results Two-thirds of expectant women reported giving birth via spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) (66.1%) and a third via caesarean section (CS) (32.6%) or ‘other’ (1.3%). Just under half (49.7%) of the CS were reported to have been elective/planned, with 47.7% being emergencies. A third (37.4%) of participants reported having no changes to their birth (as set out in their birthing plan), with a further 25% reporting COVID-related changes, and 37.4% reporting non-COVID related changes (e.g., changes as a result of birthing complications). One quarter of the sample reported COVID-related changes to their birth plan, including limited birthing options and reduced feelings of control; difficulties accessing pain-relief and assistance, and feelings of distress and anxiety. Under half of the respondents reported not knowing whether there could be someone present at the birth (44.8%), with 2.3% of respondents reporting no birthing partner being present due to COVID-related restrictions. Parental experiences of communication and advice provided by the hospital prior to delivery were mixed, with significant stress and anxiety being reported in relation to both the fluctuating guidance and lack of certainty regarding the presence of birthing partners at the birth. The sentiment analysis revealed that participant experiences of giving birth during the pandemic were predominately negative (46.9%) particularly in relation to the first national lockdown, with a smaller proportion of positive (33.2%) and neutral responses (19.9%). Conclusion The proportion of parents reporting birthing interventions (i.e., emergency CS) was higher than previously reported, as were uncertainties related to the birth, and poor communication, leading to increased feelings of anxiety and high levels of negative emotions. The implications of these findings are discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T06:05:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0723db4f46114d599735d3f333e592d5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T06:05:44Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj.art-0723db4f46114d599735d3f333e592d52022-12-21T17:57:33ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932022-04-0122111110.1186/s12884-022-04637-8Giving birth in a pandemic: women’s birth experiences in England during COVID-19Ezra Aydin0Kevin A. Glasgow1Staci M. Weiss2Zahra Khan3Topun Austin4Mark H. Johnson5Jane Barlow6Sarah Lloyd-Fox7Department of Psychology, University of CambridgeDepartment of Education, University of CambridgeDepartment of Psychology, University of CambridgeDepartment of Psychology, University of CambridgeNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustDepartment of Psychology, University of CambridgeCentre for Evidence-Based Intervention, Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of OxfordDepartment of Psychology, University of CambridgeAbstract Background Expectant parents worldwide have experienced changes in the way they give birth as a result of COVID-19, including restrictions relating to access to birthing units and the presence of birthing partners during the birth, and changes to birth plans. This paper reports the experiences of women in England. Methods Data were obtained from both closed- and open-ended responses collected as part of the national COVID in Context of Pregnancy, Infancy and Parenting (CoCoPIP) Study online survey (n = 477 families) between 15th July 2020 – 29th March 2021. Frequency data are presented alongside the results of a sentiment analysis; the open-ended data was analysed thematically. Results Two-thirds of expectant women reported giving birth via spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) (66.1%) and a third via caesarean section (CS) (32.6%) or ‘other’ (1.3%). Just under half (49.7%) of the CS were reported to have been elective/planned, with 47.7% being emergencies. A third (37.4%) of participants reported having no changes to their birth (as set out in their birthing plan), with a further 25% reporting COVID-related changes, and 37.4% reporting non-COVID related changes (e.g., changes as a result of birthing complications). One quarter of the sample reported COVID-related changes to their birth plan, including limited birthing options and reduced feelings of control; difficulties accessing pain-relief and assistance, and feelings of distress and anxiety. Under half of the respondents reported not knowing whether there could be someone present at the birth (44.8%), with 2.3% of respondents reporting no birthing partner being present due to COVID-related restrictions. Parental experiences of communication and advice provided by the hospital prior to delivery were mixed, with significant stress and anxiety being reported in relation to both the fluctuating guidance and lack of certainty regarding the presence of birthing partners at the birth. The sentiment analysis revealed that participant experiences of giving birth during the pandemic were predominately negative (46.9%) particularly in relation to the first national lockdown, with a smaller proportion of positive (33.2%) and neutral responses (19.9%). Conclusion The proportion of parents reporting birthing interventions (i.e., emergency CS) was higher than previously reported, as were uncertainties related to the birth, and poor communication, leading to increased feelings of anxiety and high levels of negative emotions. The implications of these findings are discussed.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-022-04637-8Birth experienceCOVID-19Thematic analysisPregnancyEngland |
| spellingShingle | Ezra Aydin Kevin A. Glasgow Staci M. Weiss Zahra Khan Topun Austin Mark H. Johnson Jane Barlow Sarah Lloyd-Fox Giving birth in a pandemic: women’s birth experiences in England during COVID-19 BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Birth experience COVID-19 Thematic analysis Pregnancy England |
| title | Giving birth in a pandemic: women’s birth experiences in England during COVID-19 |
| title_full | Giving birth in a pandemic: women’s birth experiences in England during COVID-19 |
| title_fullStr | Giving birth in a pandemic: women’s birth experiences in England during COVID-19 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Giving birth in a pandemic: women’s birth experiences in England during COVID-19 |
| title_short | Giving birth in a pandemic: women’s birth experiences in England during COVID-19 |
| title_sort | giving birth in a pandemic women s birth experiences in england during covid 19 |
| topic | Birth experience COVID-19 Thematic analysis Pregnancy England |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-022-04637-8 |
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