“I didn’t get to have this experience with anyone”: experiences of becoming a mother during the pandemic

ABSTRACT COVID-19 resulted in impacts across life experiences; this study focuses on impact on becoming a mother. People who were pregnant or gave birth in the US during the first year of the pandemic (April 2020-June 2021) were interviewed: six pregnant and 29 who had birthed. Interviews were analyzed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Themes included Missing Out Isolation, First-time Mom Experiences, Pervasive Uncertainty, and Depression. Subthemes were loss of celebration, missed events, somewhat helpful role of technology, less education and perinatal care, not having elder wisdom, COVID-specific anxiety, anxiety, and less postpartum support. Implications for research and practice are presented.