Pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic: an exploration of patients’ lived experiences
Abstract Background Infectious outbreaks are known to cause fear and panic. Exploration of pregnant individuals’ psychosocial condition using a qualitative lens during an infectious outbreak is limited. In this study we explore pregnant individuals’ lived experiences as well as their psychological a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04337-9 |
| _version_ | 1819173857224818688 |
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| author | Sabrina Kolker Anne Biringer Jessica Bytautas Haley Blumenfeld Sahana Kukan June C. Carroll |
| author_facet | Sabrina Kolker Anne Biringer Jessica Bytautas Haley Blumenfeld Sahana Kukan June C. Carroll |
| author_sort | Sabrina Kolker |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Infectious outbreaks are known to cause fear and panic. Exploration of pregnant individuals’ psychosocial condition using a qualitative lens during an infectious outbreak is limited. In this study we explore pregnant individuals’ lived experiences as well as their psychological and behavioural responses during COVID-19 with the goal of providing useful strategies from the patient’s perspective to enable health care providers to help pregnant patients navigate this and future pandemics. Methods Pregnant individuals between 20-weeks gestation and 3 months postpartum who received maternity care from an urban academic interprofessional teaching unit in Toronto, Canada were invited to participate. Semi-structured 60 min interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed using descriptive thematic analysis. Interview questions probed psychological responses to the pandemic, behavioural and lifestyle changes, strategies to mitigate distress while pregnant during COVID-19 and advice for other patients and the healthcare team. Results There were 12 participants, mean age 35 years (range 30–43 years), all 1 to 6 months postpartum. Six main themes emerged: 1) Childbearing-related challenges to everyday life; 2) Increased worry, uncertainty and fear; 3) Pervasive sense of loss; 4) Challenges accessing care; 5) Strategies for coping with pandemic stress; 6) Reflections and advice to other pregnant people and health care professionals. Pregnant individuals described lack of social support due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and a profound sense of loss of what they thought their pregnancy and postpartum period should have been. Advice to healthcare providers included providing mental health support, clear and up to date communication as well as more postpartum and breastfeeding support. Conclusions These participants described experiencing psychosocial distress during their pregnancies and postpartum. In a stressful situation such as a global pandemic, health care providers need to play a pivotal role to ensure pregnant individuals feel supported and receive consistent care throughout the pregnancy and postpartum period. The health care provider should ensure that mental health concerns are addressed and provide postpartum and breastfeeding support. Without addressing this need for support, parental mental health, relationships, parent-infant bonding, and infant development may be negatively impacted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T20:29:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-347659236d6e40c481e0e82eedaeaf88 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T20:29:44Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj.art-347659236d6e40c481e0e82eedaeaf882022-12-21T18:13:37ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932021-12-0121111310.1186/s12884-021-04337-9Pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic: an exploration of patients’ lived experiencesSabrina Kolker0Anne Biringer1Jessica Bytautas2Haley Blumenfeld3Sahana Kukan4June C. Carroll5Ray D. Wolfe Department of Family Medicine, Sinai HealthRay D. Wolfe Department of Family Medicine, Sinai HealthRay D. Wolfe Department of Family Medicine, Sinai HealthRay D. Wolfe Department of Family Medicine, Sinai HealthRay D. Wolfe Department of Family Medicine, Sinai HealthRay D. Wolfe Department of Family Medicine, Sinai HealthAbstract Background Infectious outbreaks are known to cause fear and panic. Exploration of pregnant individuals’ psychosocial condition using a qualitative lens during an infectious outbreak is limited. In this study we explore pregnant individuals’ lived experiences as well as their psychological and behavioural responses during COVID-19 with the goal of providing useful strategies from the patient’s perspective to enable health care providers to help pregnant patients navigate this and future pandemics. Methods Pregnant individuals between 20-weeks gestation and 3 months postpartum who received maternity care from an urban academic interprofessional teaching unit in Toronto, Canada were invited to participate. Semi-structured 60 min interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed using descriptive thematic analysis. Interview questions probed psychological responses to the pandemic, behavioural and lifestyle changes, strategies to mitigate distress while pregnant during COVID-19 and advice for other patients and the healthcare team. Results There were 12 participants, mean age 35 years (range 30–43 years), all 1 to 6 months postpartum. Six main themes emerged: 1) Childbearing-related challenges to everyday life; 2) Increased worry, uncertainty and fear; 3) Pervasive sense of loss; 4) Challenges accessing care; 5) Strategies for coping with pandemic stress; 6) Reflections and advice to other pregnant people and health care professionals. Pregnant individuals described lack of social support due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and a profound sense of loss of what they thought their pregnancy and postpartum period should have been. Advice to healthcare providers included providing mental health support, clear and up to date communication as well as more postpartum and breastfeeding support. Conclusions These participants described experiencing psychosocial distress during their pregnancies and postpartum. In a stressful situation such as a global pandemic, health care providers need to play a pivotal role to ensure pregnant individuals feel supported and receive consistent care throughout the pregnancy and postpartum period. The health care provider should ensure that mental health concerns are addressed and provide postpartum and breastfeeding support. Without addressing this need for support, parental mental health, relationships, parent-infant bonding, and infant development may be negatively impacted.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04337-9PregnancyMental healthCOVID-19Psychosocial behaviorSupport |
| spellingShingle | Sabrina Kolker Anne Biringer Jessica Bytautas Haley Blumenfeld Sahana Kukan June C. Carroll Pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic: an exploration of patients’ lived experiences BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Pregnancy Mental health COVID-19 Psychosocial behavior Support |
| title | Pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic: an exploration of patients’ lived experiences |
| title_full | Pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic: an exploration of patients’ lived experiences |
| title_fullStr | Pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic: an exploration of patients’ lived experiences |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic: an exploration of patients’ lived experiences |
| title_short | Pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic: an exploration of patients’ lived experiences |
| title_sort | pregnant during the covid 19 pandemic an exploration of patients lived experiences |
| topic | Pregnancy Mental health COVID-19 Psychosocial behavior Support |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04337-9 |
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