The Lived Experience of Giving Birth During COVID-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic led to many changes in obstetric care practices that affect the birth experience in health care settings. Although the changes were meant to decrease transmission and protect postpartum women and their newborns, the study revealed unintended consequences of the changes put in place during COVID-19. The purpose of the study was to explore the lived experience of women who gave birth in the health care setting during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research question was, What is the lived experience of women who delivered a baby in a health care setting during the COVID-19 pandemic?