Everything feels just a little heavier, more wrought with implications, you know? – a mixed-methods study examining lifestyle behaviors, health, and well-being of pregnant and postpartum women during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract Background While the striking impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, heath care access and lifestyle behaviors, including perceived health, diet, physical activity, and sleep has been reported, few studies have examined these domains jointly among pregnant and postpartum people i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-07011-y |
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| author | Sara Dube Muhammad Asim Jennifer Gonzalez Gracia Dala Michelle L. Wright Megan J. Gray Linda G. Kahn Deborah Jacobvitz Elizabeth M. Widen |
| author_facet | Sara Dube Muhammad Asim Jennifer Gonzalez Gracia Dala Michelle L. Wright Megan J. Gray Linda G. Kahn Deborah Jacobvitz Elizabeth M. Widen |
| author_sort | Sara Dube |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background While the striking impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, heath care access and lifestyle behaviors, including perceived health, diet, physical activity, and sleep has been reported, few studies have examined these domains jointly among pregnant and postpartum people in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This mixed methods study was conducted among a subset of participants (n = 22) in a cohort study in Austin, Texas, who were pregnant or had recently delivered when the outbreak occurred. Measures were from the early second trimester up to 6 months postpartum. Findings from questionnaires were complemented by qualitative interviews during Spring/Summer 2020 regarding experiences during the early pandemic. Results From our quantitative data (n = 22), most participants reported that the pandemic generally had a negative impact on their lives (81%), that they shifted to eating more at home (71%), and that they were less physically active (62%). Five major themes emerged in our qualitative interviews (n = 22): (1) adaptation to pandemic restrictions; (2) psychosocial experiences, such as feelings of anxiety, guilt, sadness, isolation, and frustration; (3) health behavior changes; (4) health care experiences; and (5) where they obtained general and perinatal related pandemic information. Of those who completed both pregnancy and postpartum interviews (n = 8), all reported anxiety during both periods; however, those who delivered in Spring 2020 experienced more anxiety surrounding delivery and less social support than those who delivered in Summer 2020, who reported less anxiety surrounding hospital birth and greater social support, particularly after delivery. Conclusions Overall, our findings confirm prior evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic had a marked impact on stress, anxiety, and worries, as well as lifestyle behaviors among pregnant and postpartum people. Our work provides lessons for health care practitioners about support need for pregnant and postpartum persons amid societal disruption. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5b66008c40014aca8771da9b6717e620 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj-art-5b66008c40014aca8771da9b6717e6202025-01-12T12:43:49ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932025-01-0125111410.1186/s12884-024-07011-yEverything feels just a little heavier, more wrought with implications, you know? – a mixed-methods study examining lifestyle behaviors, health, and well-being of pregnant and postpartum women during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemicSara Dube0Muhammad Asim1Jennifer Gonzalez2Gracia Dala3Michelle L. Wright4Megan J. Gray5Linda G. Kahn6Deborah Jacobvitz7Elizabeth M. Widen8Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Human Ecology, College of Natural Sciences, Department of Women’s Health & Pediatrics, Dell Medical School, Dell Pediatric Research Institute, Population Research Center, The University of Texas at AustinDepartment of Community Health Sciences (MA), Aga Kahn UniversityDepartment of Nutritional Sciences, School of Human Ecology, College of Natural Sciences, Department of Women’s Health & Pediatrics, Dell Medical School, Dell Pediatric Research Institute, Population Research Center, The University of Texas at AustinDepartment of Nutritional Sciences, School of Human Ecology, College of Natural Sciences, Department of Women’s Health & Pediatrics, Dell Medical School, Dell Pediatric Research Institute, Population Research Center, The University of Texas at AustinNational Cancer Institute, Neuro-Oncology Branch (MLW)Department of Pediatrics & Dell Pediatric Research Institute, The University of Texas at Austin (EMW, MJG)Department of Pediatrics, New York University (LGK)Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin (DJ)Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Human Ecology, College of Natural Sciences, Department of Women’s Health & Pediatrics, Dell Medical School, Dell Pediatric Research Institute, Population Research Center, The University of Texas at AustinAbstract Background While the striking impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, heath care access and lifestyle behaviors, including perceived health, diet, physical activity, and sleep has been reported, few studies have examined these domains jointly among pregnant and postpartum people in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This mixed methods study was conducted among a subset of participants (n = 22) in a cohort study in Austin, Texas, who were pregnant or had recently delivered when the outbreak occurred. Measures were from the early second trimester up to 6 months postpartum. Findings from questionnaires were complemented by qualitative interviews during Spring/Summer 2020 regarding experiences during the early pandemic. Results From our quantitative data (n = 22), most participants reported that the pandemic generally had a negative impact on their lives (81%), that they shifted to eating more at home (71%), and that they were less physically active (62%). Five major themes emerged in our qualitative interviews (n = 22): (1) adaptation to pandemic restrictions; (2) psychosocial experiences, such as feelings of anxiety, guilt, sadness, isolation, and frustration; (3) health behavior changes; (4) health care experiences; and (5) where they obtained general and perinatal related pandemic information. Of those who completed both pregnancy and postpartum interviews (n = 8), all reported anxiety during both periods; however, those who delivered in Spring 2020 experienced more anxiety surrounding delivery and less social support than those who delivered in Summer 2020, who reported less anxiety surrounding hospital birth and greater social support, particularly after delivery. Conclusions Overall, our findings confirm prior evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic had a marked impact on stress, anxiety, and worries, as well as lifestyle behaviors among pregnant and postpartum people. Our work provides lessons for health care practitioners about support need for pregnant and postpartum persons amid societal disruption.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-07011-yCOVID-19PregnancyPostpartumHealth behaviorMental health |
| spellingShingle | Sara Dube Muhammad Asim Jennifer Gonzalez Gracia Dala Michelle L. Wright Megan J. Gray Linda G. Kahn Deborah Jacobvitz Elizabeth M. Widen Everything feels just a little heavier, more wrought with implications, you know? – a mixed-methods study examining lifestyle behaviors, health, and well-being of pregnant and postpartum women during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth COVID-19 Pregnancy Postpartum Health behavior Mental health |
| title | Everything feels just a little heavier, more wrought with implications, you know? – a mixed-methods study examining lifestyle behaviors, health, and well-being of pregnant and postpartum women during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Everything feels just a little heavier, more wrought with implications, you know? – a mixed-methods study examining lifestyle behaviors, health, and well-being of pregnant and postpartum women during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Everything feels just a little heavier, more wrought with implications, you know? – a mixed-methods study examining lifestyle behaviors, health, and well-being of pregnant and postpartum women during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Everything feels just a little heavier, more wrought with implications, you know? – a mixed-methods study examining lifestyle behaviors, health, and well-being of pregnant and postpartum women during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Everything feels just a little heavier, more wrought with implications, you know? – a mixed-methods study examining lifestyle behaviors, health, and well-being of pregnant and postpartum women during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | everything feels just a little heavier more wrought with implications you know a mixed methods study examining lifestyle behaviors health and well being of pregnant and postpartum women during the early months of the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | COVID-19 Pregnancy Postpartum Health behavior Mental health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-07011-y |
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