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Updated: Jun 12, 2025
Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
COVID-Related Visitor Restrictions and Childbirth Experiences in One US Hospital
Payton Sciarratta1, Kelsey Rondini, Ghislaine Barry
1School of Nursing, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia (Mss Sciarratta, Rondini, and Seddon and Dr Mirabal-Beltran); College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Howard University, Washington, District of Columbia (Dr Barry); Medstar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia (Dr Barry); and College of Arts and Sciences, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia (Ms Dube and Mr Katial).
Objective:
The objective of this study was to explore childbirth experiences during COVID-19 visitor restrictions.
Methods:
We used a descriptive phenomenological approach in our study, which took place in a postpartum unit at a level IV birthing hospital in the Mideastern United States, where 3617 births occurred in 2019.
Results:
A total of 22 participants who were older than 18 years, who gave birth at 37 weeks gestation or more, and who had at least 1 birth experience in the United States prior to the COVID-19 pandemic participated in this study. We assessed participants' birth experiences before and during COVID-19 visitor restrictions through in-depth interviews. Participant perspectives revealed the following 6 themes after an iterative analysis: A Shared Personal Connection is a Valued Trait, A Female Support Person is Important, Nurses Went the Extra Mile, Support People Help with Decision-Making, Two is an Ideal Number of Support People, and Increased Psychological Burden.
Discussion:
These findings are vital to inform hospital visitor policies moving forward in the endemic reality of COVID-19 pandemic.
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