Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National Maternity Hospital, 2, Dublin, Ireland.
School of Medicine, UCD Perinatal Research Centre, University College Dublin, National Maternity Hospital, 65-66 Lower Mount Street, Dublin, D02 YH21, Ireland.
Ir J Med Sci. 2022 Oct;191(5):2177-2184. doi: 10.1007/s11845-021-02862-2. Epub 2021 Dec 2.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how maternity care services are provided worldwide. To contain the virus, many providers reduced the number of face-to-face visits for women. In addition, partner attendance was prohibited in many circumstances to protect staff, and other service users, from potential infection.
To explore women's experience of pregnancy and birth in the Republic of Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A qualitative study with 14 women was conducted using a grounded theory approach. Data were collected between April and July 2020, and in-depth interviews were conducted either in pregnancy or in the first 12 weeks after the birth.
Six categories emerged: loss of normality, navigating "new" maternity care systems, partners as bystanders, balancing information, uncertainty, and unexpected benefits of pregnancy during the pandemic. While benefits were reported (working from home and additional time spent with partners during the "fourth trimester"), in general, the themes were of increased anxiety and uncertainty.
The pandemic caused additional anxiety for pregnant women. This was exacerbated by uncertainty about the effects of COVID-19 on pregnancy and unclear messaging about restrictions. More interactive and personalized communication is required to support women to cope with uncertainty during a pandemic. The birth partner plays an important role as an advocate for women and excluding them from pregnancy care caused additional anxiety for pregnant women. Containment strategies for a pandemic should be developed with this in mind, to view the family as a unit rather than the woman in isolation.
COVID-19 大流行改变了全球的产妇护理服务方式。为了控制病毒，许多提供者减少了妇女的面对面就诊次数。此外，为了保护工作人员和其他服务使用者免受潜在感染，在许多情况下禁止伴侣陪同。
探索爱尔兰共和国 COVID-19 大流行期间妇女的妊娠和分娩经历。
采用扎根理论方法进行了一项有 14 名女性参与的定性研究。数据收集于 2020 年 4 月至 7 月期间进行，在妊娠期间或分娩后 12 周内进行了深入访谈。
出现了六个类别：正常生活的丧失、导航“新”产妇护理系统、伴侣作为旁观者、平衡信息、不确定性以及大流行期间怀孕的意外好处。虽然报告了好处（在家工作和在“第四季度”与伴侣共度更多时间），但总的来说，主题是增加了焦虑和不确定性。
大流行给孕妇带来了额外的焦虑。这因对 COVID-19 对妊娠影响的不确定性和对限制的模糊信息而加剧。需要更具互动性和个性化的沟通来支持妇女应对大流行期间的不确定性。分娩伴侣作为妇女的倡导者发挥着重要作用，将其排除在妊娠护理之外会给孕妇带来额外的焦虑。在制定大流行遏制策略时应考虑到这一点，将家庭视为一个单位，而不是孤立的妇女。
