Qualitative Study of the Experience of Caring for Women During Labor and Birth During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective: To examine the experiences of labor and delivery (L & D) nurses and certified nurse-midwives who cared for women during labor and birth in the United States during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: Subgroup analysis of a larger study with a qualitative descriptive design. Setting: Telephone interviews. Participants: The parent study included 100 nurses across various specialty areas who provided patient care during the first wave of COVID-19 in the United States. Our subgroup analysis included 19 participants: L & D nurses (n = 11) and certified nurse-midwives (n = 8). Methods: Semistructured interview guide. Results: Participants described their experiences providing patient care in L & D settings during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. We identified five major themes: Separation of COVID-19-Positive Mothers and Newborns , Isolation of Women in Active Labor , Disparities in Access to Care , Barriers to Communication , and Effect on the Mental Health of Members of the Care Team. Conclusion: Our findings captured the experiences of maternity care team members who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic when standards of quality maternity care were compromised. The challenges of caring for COVID-19- positive mothers, including isolation during active labor and infant removal from mothers at birth, affected their psy-chological well-being and their mental health and must now be addressed to prevent burnout and turnover. JOGNN, 52, 202-210; 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2022.12.006 Accepted December 21, 2022; Published online December 26, 2022