The impact of COVID-19 restrictions on women’s pregnancy and postpartum experience in England: A qualitative exploration Midwifery

Objectives: To understand the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on women’s pregnancy and postpartum experience. Design: A qualitative design using semi-structured interviews to collect data. Setting: England (UK) Participants: A sample of 25 pregnant women and new mothers were recruited following their participation in a previous coronavirus online survey. Measurements and Findings: Reduced emotional and physical support from friends, family and health professionals and limited available information about risk to pregnancy and care led to increased emotional and physical distress. Yet, the majority of participants had a positive birth experience. Key conclusions: Participants missed out on ‘key’ moments during their pregnancy and postpartum experience which had implications for emotional and physical wellbeing. Implications for practice: Our findings show the importance for adequate emotional and physical support during pregnancy and postpartum to reduce added emotional distress during the coronavirus pandemic. Clear information is also essential to reduce uncertainty and anxiety