https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3010-2265
Abstract
In this study, we described perinatal women’s experiences of childbirth and parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic, guided by the qualitative descriptive methodology. We interviewed 14 women who gave birth during the pandemic. Data were analyzed using inductive qualitative content analysis. Our results showed that perinatal women experienced fear of COVID-19 infection, depression, and difficulties related to childbirth and parenting. They believed that online services and sharing information through social networking were helpful. They were looking forward to participating in outdoor activities to promote children’s development and suggested enforcing untact (no contact) services for perinatal women in the post-COVID-19 era.
Background
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection has been a threat to the world’s population for over two years, since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel COVID-19 pandemic on March 11, 2020. People with chronic noninfectious or underlying diseases and the elderly are particularly at risk (Hernández-Galdamez et al., Citation2020). Pregnant women are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illnesses than non-pregnant women. According to a study, out of 64 pregnant women hospitalized for COVID-19 infection, 69% had a severe disease and 31% had a critical illness (Pierce-Williams et al., Citation2020). Further, according to the results of a systematic literature review, it was confirmed that pregnant women infected with COVID-19 were more likely to have a cesarean section, low birth weight, and premature delivery than pregnant women who were not infected (Jafari et al., Citation2021). Therefore, pregnant women need attention and support for prenatal care, childbirth, and postpartum care for healthy pregnancy and childbirth during the pandemic.
Previous studies have shown that the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced the frequency of routine antenatal screenings and shortened postpartum hospitalization in pregnant women (Greene et al., Citation2020; Justman et al., Citation2020). Regarding antenatal care, an Israeli tertiary hospital surveyed the number of obstetrics and gynecological patients before (March/April 2019) and during (March/April 2020) the COVID-19 pandemic and found a decrease in the number of pregnant women who underwent prenatal screening during the pandemic (Justman et al., Citation2020). According to a retrospective cohort study conducted in a hospital in the United States, amended hospital regulations, such as restrictions on visitors, wearing of protective equipment, and designation of isolation rooms for suspected or confirmed infected mothers, were adopted in March 2020 due to COVID-19 (Greene et al., Citation2020). Owing to these changes in prenatal and delivery conditions, expectant mothers now have a different pregnancy and delivery experience than before COVID-19.
It is known that mothers who have given birth are more likely to be depressed after childbirth and have anxiety about parenting when social support is limited (Liu et al., Citation2020). The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to add psychological and emotional burdens to pregnant women and mothers. For example, high-risk pregnant women hospitalized during the pandemic had a higher risk of depression than those hospitalized before the COVID-19 period (Sade et al., Citation2020). Therefore, it is necessary to understand pregnant women’s experiences of pregnancy and childbirth during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide appropriate assistance. Meanwhile, many governments worldwide have emphasized social distancing and stay-at-home policies. This has negatively affected people’s mental health and increased depression and anxiety (Marroquín et al., Citation2020). This phenomenon can also be seen in parents and children when children cannot go to daycare or school and spend more time with their parents at home. According to a recent study, most parents of children aged 0–12 reported spending more time at home raising their children during COVID-19. Approximately 40% of parents experienced severe depression or complained of anxiety (Lee et al., Citation2021). COVID-19 has had a significant impact on perinatal women’s health (Kotlar et al., Citation2021). Therefore, it is necessary to explore and understand mothers’ experiences during the perinatal period throughout the pandemic.
Aim
The aim of this study was to understand perinatal women’s experiences of childbirth and parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Research design and methods
In this qualitative study, we employed qualitative descriptive methodology to understand the experiences of perinatal women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative descriptive design is a valid research methodology that offers a rich description of a phenomenon or events from the participant’s point of view (Sandelowski, Citation2000). Qualitative description lies within the naturalistic style of inquiry, with the view that reality is subjective (Sandelowski, Citation2000; Thorne et al., Citation2004). We considered a qualitative descriptive design a good fit for this study as it enables us to attain an in-depth understanding of perinatal women’s experiences of childbirth and parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic and obtain insights into women’s needs from their viewpoints.
Sampling and data collection
Fourteen perinatal women participated in this study. The inclusion criteria were perinatal women who delivered a baby after March 11, 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, and those who were the primary caretakers for their babies. The participants were recruited through postings on an online community website (https://cafe.naver.com/imsanbu) that perinatal women commonly use in South Korea.
After obtaining approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the first author, data were collected using purposive and snowball sampling between December 23, 2020, and January 22, 2021. Given that social distancing due to COVID-19 was required, all interviews were conducted via Zoom (a video-conferencing platform) until the data were saturated (DiCicco-Bloom & Crabtree, Citation2006). The first and second authors, who have extensive qualitative research experience, conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews as moderator and co-moderator. Before starting the interviews, written informed consent and general information were obtained. Data were recorded with the participants’ permission. Voice files were used for the verbatim transcription. No relationships with the participants were established before the commencement of the study. The interviews lasted for approximately 60–100 minutes, and no repeat interviews were conducted. Participants were given a gift coupon valid for 20,000 won (equivalent to 18 dollars).
Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. The main questions were as follows: (1) ‘What is your experience of childbirth and parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic?’; (2) ‘What has helped you relate to childbirth and parenting amid the pandemic?’; (3) ‘What difficulties have you faced relating to childbirth and parenting during the pandemic?’ They were also asked to respond to probing questions: ‘Would you elaborate a little more?’ At the end of the interview, the participants were asked, ‘Is there anything you would like to add?’
Data analysis
Data collection and analysis were performed simultaneously. Data were analyzed using an inductive qualitative content analysis process based on three phases: preparation, organization, and reporting (Elo & Kyngäs, Citation2008; Thorne, Citation2016). In the preparation phase, the interviews were transcribed verbatim, and two researchers intensively read through the transcriptions to gain comprehensive insights. In the organization phase, meaningful units (words, sentences, and paragraphs) corresponding to the study purpose were determined. NVivo 12 software was used to assist in sorting, indexing, and managing specific meaning, similarities, and differences. One researcher coded the transcripts, and the other authors concurred. Subcategories were grouped into subthemes and then grouped into themes. Deeper analysis involved rereading of the transcripts and continued reflection of field notes. In addition, the iterative process of inductive content analysis led to deeper insights and strengthened the validation of research findings (Thomas & Magilvy, Citation2011). Lastly, we reported the findings of the study with quotations from the participants, subcategories, subthemes, and the main theme, supporting the trustworthiness in the reporting phase. Each subtheme was underpinned by several quotes to reinforce the results. The third author translated the quotes from Korean into English to ensure that nothing of importance was omitted or misinterpreted. Finally, the research team discussed the results until a consensus was reached.
Study rigor
Rigor and trustworthiness in this qualitative study were addressed following Lincoln and Guba’s model (Citation1994). Confirmability was established through meticulous data analysis by two authors (HK and SC) who were well versed in qualitative analysis. Dependability was ensured by collecting data in the same way across participants, accurately documenting the data, and using the exact words of respondents in the findings. Further, the applicability of the research was ensured by selecting participants who could provide rich experiences. The research process was described in detail to increase the study’s accountability. Moreover, the confirmability of this study was established by ensuring its reliability, applicability, and accountability. To ensure neutrality, peer researchers with qualitative research experience provided feedback on the study results.
Ethical considerations
This study was approved by the IRB of the first author’s institution (IRB No. 2011/003-006). All participants were informed about the study purpose and confidentiality and that they could withdraw at any time without penalty. All participants voluntarily agreed to participate and provided written, informed consent. All the data were stored as encrypted files on computers.
Results
The average age of the participants was 33.0 (range: 25–43) years, and the average age of the children born during the study period was 6.3 (range: 1.5–9) months. Eight (57.1%) participants were primiparas. The themes are shown in .
Table 1. Themes: Perinatal women’s experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Difficulties faced during the COVID-19 pandemic
Increased fear and depressive symptoms related to COVID-19
Participants said they were extremely anxious and afraid about the risk of coronavirus infection. In particular, they worried about the fetus or newborn being infected, especially when visiting medical institutions for regular checkups or treatment of newborns. Visits were strictly limited when the child was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Participants said they were somewhat concerned about both breastfeeding and breastfeeding while wearing protective clothing, and a mask was inconvenient.
If I, a pregnant woman, became infected with the coronavirus, I would be most afraid because I did not see a case where a pregnant woman was infected, took medication, was treated, and a child was born normally.
The participants said that they were worried about getting infected and depressed, as the hours spent alone taking care of the baby were prolonged due to COVID-19. Participants stated that taking a short walk by themselves, help from the husband or family with childcare or family chores, listening to ‘how other people live’ on the radio, or talking to and sharing empathy with other mothers helped alleviate their postpartum depression.
After giving birth to the second child (during the pandemic), it was challenging to take care of my two children for a while, and I felt helpless and didn’t want to do anything, and there were a few moments like these.
Limited support due to the enforced hospital COVID-19 infection prevention policies
Participants said that regulations related to the prevention of coronavirus infection, such as restrictions on partners and visitors and coronavirus tests before hospitalization, increased. One participant said that she could not share important prenatal milestones with her partner, such as the baby’s heartbeat and detailed information explained by the medical staff during the sonogram, because the accompanying partner (husband) was not allowed to attend the prenatal checkups. It was also considerably difficult to undergo a coronavirus test during labor and wait for the results while experiencing labor for four or five hours. She said, ‘I wish the coronavirus test results would come out sooner and the waiting time in the negative pressure ward would be shorter’. Furthermore, she said that it was extremely inconvenient to answer the coronavirus-related questionnaire through the monitor in front of the door to the delivery room during premature labor. She said, ‘It would be nice to have a separate place for mothers, like a screening clinic’.
Some participants said that limiting the number of visitors to one person helped them relax after giving birth. However, they said they felt less blessed because they did not have the opportunity to celebrate the baby’s birth with family and friends. Moreover, they expressed that even husbands and families were restricted from visiting, and interaction with other mothers was minimal in the postpartum care center. One participant, who had a baby admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and whose visits were limited, wanted to visit at least once a day. Hence, it was a considerably different atmosphere than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Birth should be a blessing, but it was a bit lonely and uncomfortable. Of course, the birth of a child itself is something that you are blessed with, but with isolation and quarantine, I’m so afraid to meet someone and show them my baby.
Parenting stress due to limited outdoor activities
Participants said they found it frustrating and challenging that they could not do outside activities due to COVID-19, and restrictions on activity negatively affected them psychosocially. The participants said that there were limited opportunities for their acquaintances to visit, take care of the baby, and talk to each other face-to-face. Thus, it was less enjoyable to raise a newborn baby, and there were times when they argued with their husbands, who had become stressed due to COVID-19. The participants said that they wanted to do many things to help their child’s development, and they regretted that they could not provide them with various experiences through outdoor activities. Participants reported that they were concerned about their children ‘not being able to form peer relationships’ and ‘their language development’ because children develop language by looking at people’s facial expressions and mouth movements, which is more difficult when people are wearing masks. Moreover, participants said that they were concerned about how their children would grow up because they were not experiencing a normal childhood.
I stay indoors too much. It would be so nice to go out, see the scenery, and watch people walking around, even if I don’t talk to them. But I only stay inside, and I can’t even take my child to a place like a cultural center right now, so there are limits to playing with children.
The participants said that, as children do not use their energy outside, they use it at home. One of the participants said, ‘Raising a child at home alone causes unprecedented anger because I have no time to rest, and my depression and stress go to my child’.
From a parent’s perspective, my stress about having to accept all the complaints from my child is too high. At first, I thought if I was careful, then it would be over, but now, I sometimes get angry with my children without even realizing it.
Changes in daily living due to COVID-19
Relying on non-face-to-face smart services
The participants said that the use of technology such as apps, games, learning kits, and Zoom has increased due to COVID-19. They expressed that it was difficult at first, but they gradually got used to it. Regarding the use of an app during the prenatal checkup, as the husband was not allowed to stay during the sonogram, one participant said the following: ‘I used an app called Saybebe at the obstetrics and gynecology department. The video was automatically saved in the app if an abdominal ultrasound was performed. My husband and I saw it together’.
Additionally, participants used a ‘creative play’ app, which sends play information daily, or the KakaoKids app (a mobile education app for children) developed for smart education. For play and learning, participants said that they either directly purchased a ‘science kit’ or used play kits for children, including a square chip-shaped magnet to make a robot sent by a district office or a daycare center. One participant who took an online dried-flower arranging class through Zoom after childbirth said that it helped lower her depression. Another participant who took a parenting-related Zoom class said that the class helped her closely monitor her children, interact and share experiences with other mothers via Zoom, and learn about parenting from teachers.
The mothers with babies aged 3–8 months join Zoom based on their baby’s monthly milestones and share how their baby has been playing and receive coaching from a teacher. I think it is a good program to meet various people and exchange information through Zoom.
Social networking and sharing information
Most participants commonly used the online Mom Cafe to ask questions about the baby’s health and development, read stories of other moms’ experiences, and used a thread or photo to ask questions, which was helpful and comforting. Some participants said they used a KakaoTalk group room, a mobile messenger, to exchange information, share experiences, and closely communicate with mothers who gave birth around the same time or mothers in the neighborhood who had babies of a similar age. They said that they used Zoom or posted pictures of their children via Facebook to show each other how they were doing, what they did with their children because they were primarily at home, and what they did to help their children’s development. Some participants said they could communicate well on social media but still felt lonely when they had few people on social media with whom they could share their emotions, unlike actual meetings in person.
I just read several Webtoons (webcomics) on my cell phone, and of course, now I’m on KakaoTalk with my friends, and I talk to three of my friends from Sanhujoriwon (a Korean-style postpartum care center). I often make video calls with them, my mom, and my friends. More than before, I make many phone calls and visit Mom’s café online or use social networking services (SNS) for 30 minutes a day.
It (the smartphone) is almost always on. If the baby doesn’t sleep all night, holding the baby all night is stressful and challenging for the mother. However, as we all had a difficult time together, we felt a sense of camaraderie. For example, although we couldn’t sleep, we texted each other like, ‘My baby is attached like a cicada right now, and sharing our moments gave us emotional comfort.
Expectations for the post-COVID-19 era
Engaging in various activities promoting healthy growth and development
Participants said that when the coronavirus situation improved, they wanted to go out without a mask, meet with acquaintances and family, and exercise. They wanted to show their children several things and provide them with various experiences. They also wanted to go to kids’ cafés, cultural centers, travel parks, amusement parks, zoos, festivals, and places with many people. They said they wanted to get together and spend time with their friends who had given birth during the same period. Further, they said that it would help their children to engage in group activities.
Kids can develop morality when they meet and form relations with various people; however, this is not possible now. I want to take my kid out and go anywhere to meet people. I think this is the way my kids actually learn.
The participants wanted to be considerate and share the experience with their husbands as much as possible, such as when viewing the ultrasound before childbirth. They also wanted to receive prenatal education with their husbands, but all prenatal education was canceled. Therefore, it was expected that various non-face-to-face education related to childbirth and parenting would be provided using videos, Zoom, or SNS.
I think online education is needed for prenatal and postpartum yoga and breastfeeding. A proper breastfeeding position for my baby can be coached through online instruction. If those educational contents are set up under a category (childbirth and parenting) on Instagram, Facebook, or Naver (online platform), many young mothers could easily access it.
The participants felt that it would help to have online programs for children who stay home to teach them learning materials or singing. The district office is also expected to provide play kits to infants, which are currently only available to toddlers. Additionally, some women expressed the need for early screening and counseling for their emotional problems through phone calls or Zoom as they felt depressed or stressed after childbirth due to the coronavirus situation.
I’m a little bit less depressed, but I’m under a lot of stress. I wish there was a system like that, where mothers raising their children at home had regular phone consultations and were monitored about their current status.
There are maternity caretakers. They are people from the government who come to the house to help and see if the baby is doing well or if the baby is okay. Moms struggle when they feel they have to deal with caring for a child alone. I wish I could get such a service even online for psychological support.
Enforcing untact services related to childbirth and parenting
Participants did not know when the pandemic would end and thought that changes would occur in many ways. In terms of infection control, they said that they would continue with handwashing and wearing a mask. The participants noted that it would become the norm to wear a mask and not see the faces of friends or other people in everyday life.
As it is a virus that continues to mutate, there is a possibility of contracting the transformed coronavirus again, even if a vaccine is released. That’s why I think people should be careful, and I do think that it will become a daily necessity, a mask.
Participants were most anxious about becoming a less social, more individualistic society after the pandemic. They said that children born during the COVID-19 period could not go outside to get some air, see flowers, and look at trees. Thus, they said that they would definitely differ from other babies born and raised before the pandemic.
I think we should really prepare in advance from the perspective of parenting to deal with future diseases after the COVID-19.
Discussion
In this study, we explored perinatal women’s experiences of childbirth and parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea, using a qualitative descriptive research design. The key findings suggest that the COVID-19 visitor and public health restrictions had a negative impact on women’s experiences of childbirth and parenting. Women reported higher levels of stress, anxiety, fear, and depressive symptoms resulting from COVID-19 restrictions and social isolation. These findings are of concern, given that mothers’ psychological distress negatively affects the parent-child relationship, as well as their children’s health and development (Gassman-Pines et al., Citation2020; Marchetti et al., Citation2020; Patrick et al., Citation2020). Meanwhile, we also found that perinatal women sought emotional, psychological, and nurturing support through non-face-to-face services and social media. The themes and subthemes listed in are discussed below.
Difficulties faced during the COVID-19 pandemic
Perinatal women in this study reported high anxiety and fear about the risk of COVID-19. As a result, limiting the number of hospital visitors to one person helped some women be less anxious. However, participants also expressed feeling less supported and blessed because they could not share and celebrate their newborn’s birth with family and friends. These findings are in line with a previous study by Joy et al. (Citation2020), indicating the complexity of new mothers’ positive and negative experiences during the COVID-19 isolation. According to previous studies, communication and support from medical staff over the phone or online while maintaining social distancing helped pregnant women and mothers (Ajayi et al., Citation2021; Sahin & Kabakci, Citation2021). Therefore, medical staff should continue to provide attentive support and assistance to vulnerable women experiencing pregnancy and childbirth to alleviate the difficulties posed by COVID-19. Further, as mothers can have a positive childbirth experience if a partner is present during childbirth (WHO, Citation2021), efforts are needed to create a family-friendly childbirth environment, even in the context of COVID-19.
Those who participated in this study reported that they had difficulties in parenting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As restrictions on outdoor activities tightened, study participants reported that the more time they spent with their children at home, the higher their parenting stress became. Stress is projected onto children or surrounding objects. This supports the results of previous studies that parents experience parenting stress during the COVID-19 pandemic (Brown et al., Citation2020; Fernandes et al., Citation2021; Spinelli et al., Citation2021). Parental stress during the pandemic affected the healthy development of children (Spinelli et al., Citation2021). Portuguese mothers of infants (aged 0–12 months) who delivered babies during the pandemic had a lower level of emotional awareness and lower attachment to their children than those who delivered before the pandemic (Fernandes et al., Citation2021). Moreover, COVID-19 affects postpartum depression in women with children under 12 months of age (Spinola et al., Citation2020). Women with depression after childbirth had a lower degree of attachment than other women (Oskovi-Kaplan et al., Citation2021). Additionally, the need for parental support was confirmed by research reporting that there were more coronavirus-related stressors, and that the higher the levels of anxiety and depression, the higher was parental stress (Brown et al., Citation2020). Medical support may help prevent negative emotions in perinatal women (Ostacoli et al., Citation2020). Based on these findings, notably, the COVID-19 pandemic can negatively affect the parent-child relationship or the health and development of children due to increased parenting stress. Therefore, emotional and psychological support and nurturing support for parents are needed from medical staff and the government or local community for a healthy family life for both parents and children.
Changes in daily living due to COVID-19
Participants in this study reported that daily life has changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and they have come to rely on non-face-to-face smart services and social media. These results imply that the perinatal women in this study actively sought alternatives to social relations, and social media can function positively for information or social support to new mothers in situations requiring social distancing. Turkish pregnant women also said that they experienced changes in their daily lives, such as being unable to walk outside due to the pandemic, feeling alienated due to the destruction of social relationships, being unable to see family, and being tired of constantly cleaning at home (Sahin & Kabakci, Citation2021). The significant change identified in this study was increased communication and information-sharing through social media.
Previous studies have also reported increased social media and technology use among perinatal women due to COVID-19 (Drouin et al., Citation2020; Ollivier et al., Citation2021; Sweet et al., Citation2021). Pregnant women in Australia also used social media to obtain necessary information and actively participated in providing and receiving support during the COVID-19 pandemic (Sweet et al., Citation2021). Additionally, first-time Canadian mothers of infants aged 0–12 months reported that they searched online for mental health and other support during the pandemic (Ollivier et al., Citation2021). Parents with high anxiety tended to use social media more for information and social support (Drouin et al., Citation2020). However, it has been reported that the more pregnant women use these novel media, the worse their physical activity, diet, and sleep become (Zhang et al., Citation2021). Therefore, it is necessary to include information about the benefits and disadvantages of social media in prenatal education and screen for excessive use. Women experience psychological stress after pregnancy and childbirth, and it has become difficult to visit hospitals and doctors during the pandemic. Facemums in the UK is a social media-based antenatal care service provided to pregnant women by professionals. Pregnant women who used this service during the COVID-19 pandemic were found to be satisfied with the ease of access to information and individualized and expert answers (Chatwin et al., Citation2021). Interestingly, the participants of this study who used a real-time communication platform such as Zoom for their children’s learning or play classes were more satisfied with that service but said that the non-face-to-face service was limited. Moreover, they noted that the kit provided in advance related to children’s education helped their active participation in non-face-to-face education. Therefore, it is necessary for the public sector of the government or community to develop and deliver non-face-to-face learning or play services and related educational kits for children during a pandemic.
Expectations for the post-COVID-19 era
Participants were concerned about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their children’s physical development, social skills, and emotional development. They were particularly worried about their children’s limited social interactions outside the home. This indicates the potential risks of social distancing during the pandemic. Similarly, prenatal couples were concerned about the possibility that lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic might affect their children’s development and social skills (Rhodes et al., Citation2020). Previous studies have shown that COVID-19 can affect growth and development (Bogin & Varea, Citation2020). Face-to-face interpersonal relationships and communication were affected by wearing masks, and physical contact and attachment were reduced due to social distancing. This could have a negative effect on growth and development (Green et al., Citation2021). Children born during COVID-19 have been reported to have significantly lower speech, movement, and overall cognitive performance than children born before the pandemic (Deoni et al., Citation2021). Participants hoped to engage in various activities, such as travel and field trips, to help their children grow and develop when the COVID-19 situation improves. Therefore, it is necessary to plan at the government or local community level and introduce experience programs that aid the healthy growth and development of children by reflecting on the parents’ needs.
Participants said that even in the post-COVID-19 era, more non-contact services are needed. For example, in the UK, users of Baby Buddy (a smart app for pregnancy and nurturing) were satisfied with using this app during the COVID-19 crisis (Rhodes et al., Citation2020). Further, real-time online prenatal education programs, such as on Zoom and telehealth, have been helpful in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic (Aziz et al., Citation2020; Wu et al., Citation2020). Based on the fact that participants do not have sufficient non-contact-related services, it is necessary to develop digital infrastructure and non-face-to-face content for perinatal women and children and disseminate them for easy access in the post-COVID-19 era.
The limitations of this study are as follows. As this study was conducted with perinatal women in South Korea, it should be considered that the COVID-19 pandemic situation varies from one country to another. It will be necessary to explore the experiences of childbirth and parenting of perinatal women in countries with differing coronavirus quarantine situations. Additionally, this study conducted one-on-one interviews with the research participants using a non-face-to-face online real-time video platform. This was an appropriate method—the interviews were conducted in compliance with the coronavirus quarantine guidelines. However, the study participation may have been limited for potential informants with technical difficulties. Finally, the purpose of this study was to explore and analyze the common experiences of perinatal women during the pandemic. Therefore, we did not examine the differences between the experiences of first-time mothers and those with children. Moreover, as past experiences of childbirth and parenting may influence experiences during a pandemic, we propose a future study on the difference in experiences between first-time and experienced new mothers.
This study makes a valuable theoretical contribution toward understanding perinatal women’s childbirth and parenting experiences in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has practical implications for developing digital infrastructure and virtual content for perinatal women for easy access in the post-COVID-19 era. Additionally, this research contributes empirically to designing and conducting a virtual, real-time qualitative study. Given that the efforts for sustainable development and promotion of women’s health and well-being are global concerns, it is crucial to listen to women’s experiences worldwide, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings can serve as a reference to guide and build infrastructure for perinatal women’s care at regional and global levels.
Conclusion
Through this study, we light on perinatal women’s experience of childbirth and parenting in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Perinatal women expressed negative emotions, such as fear and depressive symptoms, as well as difficulties in childbirth and parenting during the pandemic. Further, based on our findings, we highlight the importance of providing information about the benefits of using social media in prenatal education and parenting. In addition, for the post-COVID-19 era, the perinatal women in this study expressed looking forward to participating in outdoor activities to promote their children’s development and suggested enforcing untact (no contact) services. Therefore, based on the results of this study, difficulties and negative emotions, including fear or depressive symptoms of perinatal women, need to be assessed and monitored during a pandemic crisis like COVID-19. Healthcare professionals should develop and promote easily accessible online educational content and services that reflect women’s needs. Support from the government and community are essential to promote the health of children and women during the transition period to the post-COVID-19 era.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest to declare.
Additional information
Funding
References
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