“Coronavirus Has Changed Everything”: Emotional Experiences During Pregnancy, Birth and the Postpartum Period Among Women Impacted by COVID-19

Natalie Spach

“Coronavirus Has Changed Everything”: Emotional Experiences During Pregnancy, Birth and the Postpartum Period Among Women Impacted by COVID-19

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September 21, 2021

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Natalie Spach
- ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5764-2635
- Affiliation: Gillings School of Global Public Health

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic may have a unique emotional impact on pregnant people. There is limited qualitative data on the lived psycho-social and emotional experiences of COVID-19+ pregnant and postpartum people during the pandemic. Objective: This cross-sectional study, which employed qualitative methodology, seeks to address this gap and characterize the emotional effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant and recently pregnant patients in the Boston area who had either suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection during the initial four months of the pandemic. Methods: Pregnant and recently pregnant individuals (n=20) from Massachusetts General Hospital obstetrics and gynecology clinical sites with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection were interviewed about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interviews were transcribed and coded using NVivo 12 software. Using data display matrices, thematic analysis was performed to identify emergent, cross-cutting themes. Results: The final sample consisted of 20 pregnant and postpartum participants who were predominantly white (65%), multigravidas (60%), married (80%), and tested positive for COVID-19 (55%). The most frequently described emotions were anxiety (90%), uncertainty (80%), fear (70%), relief (65%), and sadness (60%). The following three cross-cutting themes were identified: risk, protection, and change. The ways in which participants articulated their emotional reactions to the themes of risk, protection, and change were complex and varied. Significance: There was a broad range of negative and positive emotional experiences of pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period during the first four months of the COVID-19 pandemic. A better understanding of pregnant people’s emotional experiences may lead to changes in clinical practice and institutional policies that are more supportive of their needs and congruent with their values.

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