ArticleArchives of gynecology and obstetrics2022
Unexpected changes in birth experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for maternal mental health.
Article in Archives of gynecology and obstetrics, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 28 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
28 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 53 citations in OpenAlex.
- Posttraumatic stress disorder prevalence and childbirth: update meta-analysis after the introduction of the DSM-5 and COVID-19 pandemic.Archives of women's mental health · 2024Pooled it
- Parental experiences with changes in maternity care during the Covid-19 pandemic: A mixed-studies systematic review.Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives · 2023Pooled it
- Experiences of early parenthood in and beyond the coronavirus pandemic: a qualitative study with expectant and new mothers.BMC health services research · 2025Article
- From NICU to home: meeting the mental health needs of families after discharge.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2025Review
- Emergency Department Utilization for Postpartum Behavioral Health Problems and Assault Injury During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Journal of women's health (2002) · 2025Article
- The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pregnancy, Birth Experiences, and Mental Health: Voices from Women in Puerto Rico.Maternal and child health journal · 2025Article
- Impact of Presence of Doulas on Perceived Racism for Black Mothers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.PRiMER (Leawood, Kan.) · 2025Article
- Efficacy of the "7mind"-app as intervention to prevent postpartum depression in a low-risk sample group.Archives of gynecology and obstetrics · 2024Article
- The multiple mediation model of social support and postpartum anxiety symptomatology: the role of resilience, postpartum stress, and sleep problems.BMC psychiatry · 2024Article
- Changes to women's childbirth plans during the COVID-19 pandemic and posttraumatic stress symptoms: a cross-national study.Archives of women's mental health · 2024Article
- PERSPECTIVE: Implications of Recent Health Policies for Women's Reproductive Mental Health.The journal of mental health policy and economics · 2024Article
- Prevalence of perinatal post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ public health · 2024Article
- Article
- Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on prenatal and postpartum patient experiences and well-being.Birth (Berkeley, Calif.) · 2023Article
- Decline in Partner-Accompanied Births during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Internet-Based Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
- Scoping Review of Racial and Ethnic Representation of Participants in Mental Health Research Conducted in the Perinatal Period During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN · 2023Article
- Mental health of pregnant and postpartum women during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a European cross-sectional study.BMJ open · 2023Article
- Article
- Assessment of Levels of Anxiety and Fear of Covid-19 in a Population of Pregnant Women in Spain.Psychology research and behavior management · 2023Article
- From global recommendations to (in)action: A scoping review of the coverage of companion of choice for women during labour and birth.PLOS global public health · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
purposeThis study examined the rates of unexpected birth experiences due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with women's postpartum mental health symptoms (depression, generalized anxiety, and PTSD).
methodsOur cross-sectional analysis included postpartum women (N = 506) who reported on birth plan changes attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic through the PEACE (Perinatal Experiences and COVID-19 Effects) Study, an online survey that took place between May 2020 and May 2021. Covariates included sociodemographic variables, number of days since the pandemic, pre-pregnancy mental health history, and protective factors such as social support, distress tolerance, and resilience.
resultsPrevalent COVID-19 pandemic changes in the birth experience included not having support people (e.g., partners and friends) permitted to participate in the baby's delivery (33.5%), reduced access to preferred medications before or after delivery (9.7%), unavailable health care providers for the baby's birth as planned (9.6%), and other changes (13.8%). The reduced access to medications was associated with those reporting higher levels of depressive (β = .10, p < .01) and PTSD symptoms (β = .07, p < .05). Separation from their baby for a long period after delivery (β = .10, p < .05) and other changes (β = .10, p < .01) were associated with higher levels of PTSD symptoms.
conclusionUnexpected changes to the birth experience due to the COVID-19 pandemic may have small but persistent effects on depressive and PTSD symptoms. Given increased vigilance and its association with subsequent PTSD, acknowledging any fear of viral contagion within the hospital setting but informing women the plans for ensuring safety may be preventive for later mental health symptomatology.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.