Pregnancy in the Shadow of Covid-19: A Qualitative Study

Pregnancy is a unique time that can be affected by environmental events. This study was conducted to explain mothers' understanding of pregnancy during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This study was conducted with a qualitative content analysis approach. Data were obtained through in-depth virtual semi-structured interviews with 16 pregnant and postpartum mothers before access to the Covid-19 vaccine in Iran, between January and May 2021. Participants were selected from an online announcement in Tehran, Iran. Data were analyzed by conventional qualitative content analysis introduced by Graneheim and Lundman (2004).

Data analysis showed that mothers who became pregnant during the outbreak of Covid-19, despite the lack of access to the vaccine, fulfilled their previous decision to get pregnant. They had motivations for pregnancy and made a conscious decision for this purpose. Prenatal care during the Covid-19 pandemic has had unique features. Prenatal care was a necessity; mothers adjusted themselves to prenatal care. The continuous midwifery model of care using telehealth helped pregnant women overcome the difficulties of the Covid-19 pandemic. Covid-19 made a special experience for expectant mothers, which included everything from disturbance of mental condition to adopting solutions.

Pregnancy and prenatal care during the Covid-19 pandemic were a unique experience. Psychological disturbances, the impact of the pandemic on the experience of pregnancy, and the effectiveness of prenatal care under the conditions governing the pandemic were some of the features of women's experience. In future possible pandemics, the experiences gained from the Covid-19 pandemic, such as telehealth and continued care, could be used.

This study was informed by the need to understand the firsthand experiences of pregnant and postpartum mothers during a public health crisis. While patients or the public were not involved in the initial design of this study, their central and invaluable contribution lies in their participation as the key study subjects. The research is fundamentally built upon their lived experiences, which were shared through in-depth interviews. The analysis and interpretation of the data are directly derived from their narratives, ensuring that the findings are grounded in patient perspectives. Participants were also invited to review initial transcripts and coded data to verify accuracy and resonance with their experiences, enhancing the credibility and transferability of the results.