Entering motherhood during a global pandemic : how first-time pregnant women in Germany experienced the social restrictions and the new COVID-19 reality

Transition to motherhood can be a challenging and significant event in a woman's life. And those who became mothers in 2020 and 2021 also had to confront an extra challenge: the coronavirus pandemic. In March 2020, governments saw a need to impose social distancing measures and lockdowns to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. This qualitative study aimed to understand how first-time pregnant women in Germany experienced the dynamics of transitioning to motherhood during the global pandemic. This research used a reflexive Thematic Analysis method, and the instruments used were a semi-structured interviews, a social demographic questionnaire, and the scale DASS-42. Six first-time pregnant women were interviewed. After the transcription of each interview and the application of the thematic analysis, seven themes were described: prenatal appointments without their partners; uncertain birth plans; connecting with other moms-to-be during isolating times; working from home while pregnant; pre-birth plans and wishes; getting the COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant; feeling isolated. At the DASS-42, two parcipants scored severely on the Anxiety scale, and one on the Stress scale, but most participants had scores categorized as normal in the scales. The pandemic increased the burden of pregnancy in these women since they could not have the support network they wished for. The participants also experienced uncertainty about what measures to take against COVID-19. Some also discussed their concern about how long the pandemic will last and what the world will look after it.