Mixed-Methods Study of the Experience of Pregnancy During the COVID-19 Pandemic

To understand the experiences of women who were pregnant during the initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, March 2020 to May 2020, and how they coped with stress.

A convergent mixed-methods design.

Online survey that launched in April 2020.

A total of 185 pregnant women.

For the quantitative strand, we measured adaptation to coping with stress using the Brief Resilient Coping Scale. For the qualitative strand, we asked participants to describe the experience of being pregnant during the pandemic.

The mean score on the Brief Resilient Coping Scale was 14.7, which indicated a medium-level resilient coper. Using Krippendorff's content analysis, we identified four themes: Robbed of Enjoying the Expected Pregnancy Experiences, Anxiety and Fear in the Face of a Pandemic Pregnancy, Heightened Source of Worry With Birth on the Horizon, and Choosing Hope.

To meet the needs of pregnant women, perinatal nurses and other maternity care providers must understand the experience of pregnancy during times of upheaval, such as the onset of a global pandemic. Health care providers and nurses can help ensure ideal outcomes for pregnant women by recognizing the loss of the expected pregnancy experience, providing support through creative social outlets, and fostering hopeful optimism.