Childbirth in Women Infected or in Close Contact With SARS-CoV-2 in Spain: A Qualitative Study

To explore the perinatal and birth experiences of pregnant women infected, or in close contact with SARS-CoV-2 during the first wave of the pandemic in a hospital in northern Spain.

A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research and the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research were followed. Purposeful and non-probabilistic sampling were used. Recruitment started in December 2022 and continued until February 2023. The inclusion criteria consisted of: (a) Women > 18 years old fluent in Spanish, (b) pregnant women infected with or in close contact with SARS-CoV-2 at the time of delivery, and (c) those who gave birth at HUMV during the first wave of COVID-19 (March-June 2020). In-depth interviews and researcher field notes were used for data collection. A thematic inductive analysis was performed.

Nineteen participants were included. The mean age of participants was 34.94 years (standard deviation, SD: 4.17). Five themes emerged: (a) Uncertainty about COVID-19; (b) Loss of control of the situation; (c) Loss of normality; (d) Impact of restrictions on neonatal care and (e) Unexpected positive experiences.

Participants infected or in isolation due to close contact with SARS-CoV2 who became mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic experienced the perinatal process and particularly childbirth as a traumatic event. Loss of control of the situation and separation from the partner and the baby were experienced with anguish, confusion, and uncertainty. This experience had a lasting emotional impact over time.

In the future, respecting the woman's decisions in relation to childbirth, humanizing care throughout the process, not separating the mother from the baby except in extreme circumstances, and treating the couple as an inseparable and essential element during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum processes could help reduce trauma for people giving birth during pandemics.