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 psychological well-being and their mental health and must now be addressed to prevent burnout and turnover.