The Lived Experiences of Pregnancy and Motherhood in Bosnian Women During COVID-19

Abstract

Abstract. Introduction: Prenatal, perinatal and postnatal period result in series of psychological, physical, relational and emotional changes and adjustments while during the pandemic pregnant women and mothers of young children must also cope with the fear of themselves, their fetuses, or children being infected. Aim: The aim of study was to explore the lived experiences of pregnant women and mothers living in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews with 30 Bosnian women, 15 of whom were pregnant and 15 who are mothers that gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic were conducted. Participants were recruited through two local women’s associations. The data was analyzed utilized inductively using an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: The study results indicate that both pregnant women and mothers alike described negative and positive feelings about pregnancy and motherhood during the COVID-19 pandemic such as fear and hope. The lived experiences of anxiety and adaptation through two core concepts: trapped in the fear of the unknown and adapting and embracing uncertainty. Discussion: The main themes that emerged from the interviews reveal grounded fear but also adaptability. Even though people have amazing abilities to adapt to adverse life conditions, as women in our study demonstrate, many aspects of the pandemic’s impacts on vulnerable populations are still unexplored. Tailor-made public health strategies such as an online counseling platform should be created to accommodate specific needs and issues of this population.