The Lived Experience of Pregnant Women With Coronavirus During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Objective: Pregnancy is one of the most fundamental and challenging periods in a woman’s life. It is associated with significant physical and psychological changes in pregnant women. These changes, combined with COVID-19 disease, can make life much more challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the lived experience of pregnant women with COVID-19 disease. Methods: This research is a phenomenological qualitative study. We used the content analysis method to identify the mental experiences of pregnant women with COVID-19. In the present study, in-depth interviews were conducted with pregnant women affected with COVID-19. The semantic units were identified after careful analysis and coded under the headings of concepts, subcategories, main categories, and core categories. Results: In the current study, the generalized fear of harm to the fetus was the most important issue these women had experienced. Another stressor was the fear of childbirth in a contaminated hospital setting. COVID-19 quarantine, reduced ability to care for themselves and family members and loneliness caused them to lose motivation. Restlessness, guilt, rejection, suffering, and efforts to get rid of discomfort were also the main characteristics of this period. Conclusion: Getting coronavirus is an unexpected event for pregnant women that puts a lot of stress and pressure on them and can make them psychologically suffer.