The effect of COVID-19 during pregnancy on postpartum depression and mother-infant attachment

The psychiatric impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are well-documented; however, its effects during the postnatal period have been less explored.

We aimed to investigate the effect of COVID-19 on mother-infant attachment and postnatal depression in pregnant women during the pandemic.

The study group consisted of women with the diagnosis of 'pregnancy and COVID-19' after the 20th gestational week (n = 55). The control group included women who did not have a history of COVID-19 in their pregnancy or until the study date (n = 52). Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and Postpartum Attachment Scale (PPAS) were administered to the participants. COVID-19 patients were grouped according to the WHO classification.

The mean EPDS score was higher in the study group than in the control group (9.55 (7.17) vs. 6.65 (6.72) (P = 0.006)). There was no difference between the groups in the number of individuals with depression (EPDS score > 13) and PPAS factors. The mean EPDS score was found to be higher in the hospitalized group (P = 0.025). The mean EPDS score in the group with moderate or severe disease was higher than mild disease group (16 (8.49) vs. 8.67 (6.57) (P = 0.039)), there was no difference in terms of PPAS.

While the presence of COVID-19 during pregnancy has been associated with elevated postpartum depression scores in pandemic pregnant women, hospitalization of women who had COVID-19 during pregnancy and had at least one family member with moderate or more severe illness resulted in higher depression scores. The presence of COVID-19 during pregnancy does not affect mother-infant attachment. It is recommended that women with a history of COVID-19 during pregnancy be evaluated more carefully for postpartum depression.