Perinatal experiences of pregnant women with psychiatric disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic

OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the pregnancy, delivery and postpartum experiences of women with histories of psychiatric disorders. METHOD: Women already enrolled in a United States registry which prospectively studies the relationship between the use of psychiatric medications during pregnancy and major congenital malformations were invited to participate in this study. Subjects were asked about their experiences across the pandemic through interviews during pregnancy and the postpartum period and through an emailed questionnaire. Data were collected between May 2020 and February 2021. RESULTS: Interview and email questionnaire data were collected from 488 individuals. Most participants reported disruption, or planned changes, to their perinatal care due to the pandemic. Women expressed concerns about reduced postpartum support, and the reduction of positive social interactions and opportunities for family/friends to bond with the baby. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the pandemic has had a negative impact on the experiences of many pregnant women with pre-existing psychiatric disorders, particularly in relation to changes in care and perceived social support. Given that the risk of relapse of psychiatric disorders is already high in the postpartum period, it is important to identify what factors cause most distress for this at-risk population.