Associations of stress, anxiety, and partner satisfaction with maternal-fetal attachment in women pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic: an online study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to exceptional stress in pregnant women. The aim of the present study was to investigate associations of maternal stress (pandemic-related and -unrelated), anxiety, and relationship satisfaction experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic with prenatal mother-infant attachment. METHODS: An online study was conducted evaluating pandemic-related stress, pregnancy-specific stress (unrelated to the pandemic), anxiety, partnership satisfaction, and maternal-fetal attachment in German-speaking women during the second COVID-19 lockdown between January and March 2021. In total, 431 pregnant women (349 lived in Germany and 82 in Switzerland) filled in the questionnaires and gave information on demographic and pregnancy-related variables (i.e. age, gestational age, parity). Bivariate correlations were calculated in order to investigate associations between the different variables and additionally, a hierarchical regression model was conducted in order to evaluate the influence of the independent variables on prenatal attachment. RESULTS: The hierarchical regression analysis revealed that after controlling for age, gestational age, and parity higher pandemic-related stress, namely stress associated with feeling unprepared for birth, higher partnership satisfaction as well as higher positive appraisal (considered as a way of coping with pandemic-related stress) was associated with stronger maternal-fetal attachment, whereas associations of anxiety and other forms of stress were non-significant. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights interesting associations between maternal pandemic-related preparedness stress and positive appraisal of the pregnancy as well as partnership satisfaction and prenatal attachment in women pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The influence of being pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic on birth expectations and antenatal bonding.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to compare birth expectations and antenatal bonding of women pregnant prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 74 pregnant women (mean age: 33.9 ± 4.1 years, gestational age: 36 ± 2 weeks) participated in the study, who were pregnant either during the the COVID-19 pandemic (corona group, N = 35, April-July 2020) or before the pandemic (control group, N = 39, October 2017-January 2019). Birth expectations were measured using the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire (WDEQ) and Salmon's Item List (SIL) and antenatal bonding with the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS). Additionally, the corona group indicated their level of worry regarding different pandemic-related aspects using visual analogue scales. RESULTS: The corona group displayed significantly elevated fear of childbirth measured by the WDEQ and lower antenatal bonding quality compared to the control group. The additional items regarding COVID-19 burdens highlighted that the aspects that the partner may not be present during labour and that no visitors will be allowed in hospital were associated with the highest worries. CONCLUSIONS: Midwives and gynaecologists should be aware of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fear of childbirth and antenatal bonding .