Peer-reviewed article
Partners' childbirth experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic - findings from the Swedish COPE prospective cohort study.
Uhlander E, Isell S, Arnkil S, Berg J, Biasoletto G et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examines the childbirth experiences of partners (mainly fathers) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden using a prospective cohort approach. Researchers measured partner satisfaction across four dimensions: worry, information, acceptance, and emotional support. Partners who experienced unexpected births, birth complications, or had anxiety or depression during pregnancy reported more negative experiences overall.
Key points
- 365 partners were recruited between June 2020 and December 2022, with 54.5% being first-time parents
- Partners reported moderate concerns about worry (2.1/4) and emotional support (2.1/4), with lower concerns about acceptance (1.3/4)
- Partners exposed to birth complications, unmet birth expectations, or antenatal anxiety/depression had significantly more negative experiences
- Information adequacy and emotional support were key areas of concern during the pandemic period
- Study identifies vulnerable subgroups needing better communication and psychological support strategies
Limitations
This study measures partners' subjective experiences and perceptions during a specific pandemic period in Sweden; it cannot determine whether observed experiences were primarily due to COVID-19 restrictions or reflect broader patterns in partner support during childbirth, nor can it establish causality for the identified associations.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted maternity care and limited partner involvement during childbirth. While partners play an important role during pregnancy and birth, their own experiences remain understudied. This study aimed to measure partners’ childbirth experience during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine associations with relevant variables. METHODS: This cross-sectional, prospective cohort study was part of the Swedish multicentre COVID-19 during Pregnancy and Early Childhood Study (COPE). Data were collected through electronic questionnaires and national health and quality registers. Childbirth experience was measured using the Fathers for the First Time Questionnaire (FTFQ), comprising of four dimensions: ‘Worry’ (concerns about safety and emotional reactions), ‘Information’ (perceived adequacy and relevance of information), ‘Acceptance’ (feeling welcomed and acknowledged by staff), and ‘Emotional support’ (experiences of guidance and reassurance during birth). Hierarchical multiple linear regression was used to examine associations with selected variables. RESULTS: A total of 365 partners (54.5% first-time parents) were recruited between June 2020 and December 2022. Mean (SD) FTFQ scores (range 0–4, lower scores indicate a more positive experience) were: ‘Worry’ 2.1 (0.7), ‘Information’ 1.7 (0.5), ‘Acceptance’ 1.3 (0.4), and ‘Emotional support’ 2.1 (0.7). Partners who did not experience the birth as expected, were exposed to a complicated birth, or reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depression during pregnancy had more negative childbirth experiences, particularly regarding ‘Worry’ and ‘Information’. CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, partners who reported unmet expectations of childbirth, exposure to birth complications, or antenatal symptoms of anxiety and/or depression appeared to be particularly vulnerable to more negative childbirth experiences, especially in the dimensions ‘Worry’ and ‘Information’. These findings underscore the importance of identifying psychological vulnerability and unmet informational needs among partners during pregnancy and birth, and of fostering communication strategies that promote inclusion and emotional safety in the childbirth setting. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04433364 06/02/2020.