Stress with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic during pregnancy and postpartum

Abstract

The results of a longitudinal study of women during pregnancy and in the first year of a child’s life are presented. Pandemic-related stress, PTSD symptoms, mental health, attitude towards the child, coping strategies, birth information, interaction characteristics were studied. Sample: 360 women during pregnancy from 18 to 44 years (mean age 30.7), gestational age 8–40 (mean 31) weeks 75,8 % in 3rd trimester; of these, 98 dyads — at the child’s age of 4–9 months. Results: the main mental health problems are withdrawal, avoidance, depression; anxiety is moderate. The main stress factors are concerns about changes in the healthcare system, the political situation, fear for the health of relatives and the child. After the birth of a child, there is a decrease in mental health problems and stress levels. Women during pregnancy perceive their attitude towards pregnancy and the child as highly developed, but the projective method revealed a weak formation of the image of motherhood, and an expert assessment of interaction in a mother — child dyad shows mother’s low sensitivity to the needs of the child. Attitude towards a child is correlated to mental health both during pregnancy and during the first year of child’s life. Regression analysis reveals that mental health indicators during pregnancy have a significant impact on similar indicators during the first year of child’s life. Risk groups are women with unplanned pregnancy and planned caesarean section. Conclusion: help during pregnancy should be comprehensive, psychological counseling should be included into the system of obstetric and gynecological and pediatric care, with early diagnosis of mental health problems; it is important to help women form adequate attitude to motherhood, constructive stress coping strategies.