Mommyato Blog | The Effects of Pandemic Stress on Pregnant Women

22 Jun The Effects of Pandemic Stress on Pregnant Women

Posted at 10:23h in COVID-19 by JessicaB

During the pandemic, pregnant women were twice as likely to experience depression than were pregnant women before the pandemic.²

Good news Mama! COVID-19 cases and deaths have been declining for the last year. So, the World Health Organization recently downgraded the COVID-19 pandemic from a global health emergency to a health “threat.”

Pregnant women have really had a wild ride during the pandemic. And the effects of the pandemic might be longer lasting for this population, even with the rest of the world returning to normal.

Recent studies show that pregnant women are twice as likely to experience depression during the pandemic than were pregnant women before the pandemic.²

Along with COVID-19, the pandemic ushered in economic recession, financial insecurity, unemployment (disproportionately affecting women!), and social isolation. These factors created an environment ripe for stress, anxiety and depression. And, pregnant women were of the highest risk group.

A pregnant woman already has heightened sensitivity to her environment, because of the awesome work her body is doing to grow her baby and sustain the pregnancy. But the early pandemic environment proved to be unsafe. The conditions led many to feel as though they were experiencing trauma on some level. While the environment was not violent, something dangerous was happening in the outside world. It was an environment that threatened life and the lives of those you loved.

For many pregnant women, mental health problems were sparked or exacerbated. Anxiety over leaving the house, giving birth in the hospital, or the risk of the baby becoming infected became serious concerns. And, chronic high anxiety during pregnancy is already known to lead to preterm birth, low birth weight and infant health problems.¹ Mama, check out how you’re feeling with this assessment. We will provide you with resources you may need during this time.

Additionally, studies emerged that pregnant women infected with COVID-19 are more likely to become severely ill (or even die), or have preterm birth, compared to non-pregnant women.² This is because of the many immune changes that take place to support and sustain a pregnancy.

While these are well established realities for pregnant women in both a pandemic and post-pandemic world where COVID-19 is still a risk, there are many protective factors against the mental health risks related to COVID-19. To minimize the risk of PTSD (post traumatic stress), anxiety and depression, pregnant mothers:

ensure you have strong social support
establish a safe environment conducive to a healthy pregnancy
follow medical recommendations to reduce infection (social distancing, avoid sick or recently exposed people, practice frequent hand hygiene and get vaccinated)
participate in telemedicine as needed (could be prenatal appointments and/or mental health counseling).

Above all, make sure you have solid coping strategies in hand. This often means emotional connection with other people, friends and family, as well as finding sparks of joy in hobbies or pastimes. Mama, we can help you create a support team. Positive coping, and through this, developing greater resiliency, means transforming fear, and feelings of victimization by your circumstances and environment, into personal empowerment. Here’s some important information on Postpartum Depression (which often occurs during pregnancy) and anxiety. We got you, Mama!