Table 3 Participant’s advice for pregnant women and healthcare providers during COVID-19
From: Pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic: an exploration of patients’ lived experiences
Representative Quote | ||
|---|---|---|
Advice for patients | Advocate for oneself | You have to be your own best advocate because nobody is really advocating for you which sounds really depressing – because I don’t even mean it in a depressing way, I just don’t think anybody has time. You know, and I had, like – yeah, and just sort of be mindful of the fact that the system is overstretched so you have to really advocate for yourself and don’t be afraid to be annoying. [P7] |
Avoid Isolation | I think you need help at this time. So if you don’t have that, figuring out of you can have a friend or family member kind of come stay with you and be part of your bubble or … like if you feel you need help, find a way to get it right now. […] But I think if people are in that situation, you can’t just never see anyone and do this by yourself all the time. You need help somehow. [P1] | |
Advice for HCPs | Provide Clear and Up to date Information | So important because even if somebody else can’t deal with the unknowns for you, at least someone can give you the tools to sort of understand or like kind of develop. Because obviously mental health right now is first it’s identified, then it’s given, right; versus here is it, actually you don’t need it. Like it’s a different sort of thinking. So I think having the resources, “Saying yes, here’s your appointment. You know, the pandemic is happening, you have delivered, well your first appointment is for your baby, right after you get a wellness check as well of your mental health. And like how breastfeeding is going, you know, like how your own health is, like how are you recovering this and that” and then that would be good. [P6] |
Increase Postpartum Support | Even just not being able to go to physio felt really hard because it was like it was something that you need to do and I can’t do it right now. So just figuring out how – whether it’s online or with Zoom or whatever, that people can still get the support and the help that they need. [P1] | |