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Experiences of early parenthood in and beyond the coronavirus pandemic: a qualitative study with expectant and new mothers

Filiz Celik, Rachel Harrad, Robert Keasley, Paul Bennett

BMC Health Services Research, Volume: 26, Issue: 1, Start page: 33

Swansea University Authors: Filiz Celik, Rachel Harrad, Robert Keasley, Paul Bennett

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DOI (Published version): 10.1186/s12913-025-13746-x

Abstract

The term ‘Perinatal’ incorporates pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. The perinatal period is of significance in both the individual and familial life cycle, an experience shared by the wider social network and community. Yet, it can be a time where the impact of pre-existing and emerging men...

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Published in: BMC Health Services Research
ISSN: 1472-6963
Published: Springer Nature 2026
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71216
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spelling 2026-01-08T14:54:45.5388191 v2 71216 2026-01-08 Experiences of early parenthood in and beyond the coronavirus pandemic: a qualitative study with expectant and new mothers fa3b66a6d140d7ead7907869ee9448e7 Filiz Celik Filiz Celik true false 9763e204db1ffbf098a5c7735f931ff8 Rachel Harrad Rachel Harrad true false d0f7c1b27fc2eba5dde9342d242a9f4e Robert Keasley Robert Keasley true false 20803717bf274c582f30f80916c596d3 Paul Bennett Paul Bennett true false 2026-01-08 PSYS The term ‘Perinatal’ incorporates pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. The perinatal period is of significance in both the individual and familial life cycle, an experience shared by the wider social network and community. Yet, it can be a time where the impact of pre-existing and emerging mental health problems could necessitate specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services (PMHS) support via the National Health Service (NHS). The COVID-19 pandemic is considered to have added adverse impacts on Perinatal Mental Health (PMH), with questions on the lived experience remaining largely unanswered. The current study focussed on the experiences of a unique user group, women who were currently in receipt of perinatal mental health support during the pandemic and considered the context in which this service was received via the NHS within Wales. Semi-structured interviews with 21 expectant and new mothers were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) establishing four main themes of: 1. Disrupted Perinatal Medical Care during the COVID-19 pandemic; 2. Becoming a Parent in Social Isolation; 3. Managing Perinatal Health Through PMHS; 4. Parenthood beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic caused concerns and worries amongst pregnant, birthing, and post-partum women and that diminished opportunities for social support during that time created an adverse mental health impact upon them. Overall, COVID-19 appears to have a ripple effect on women and their families experiencing the perinatal period during pandemic. Participants largely attributed the causes of their poorer experiences to the pandemic by identifying it as a contributor to their heightened perinatal mental distress and at times as sole cause for their referral to Perinatal Mental Health Services. The research generates information and knowledge that highlights the unique needs of the perinatal population in future pandemics and crises, with both short and long-term implications for parents, babies and families. Journal Article BMC Health Services Research 26 1 33 Springer Nature 1472-6963 Perinatal mental health; COVID-19 pandemic; Social isolation; Lockdown measures; Maternal and paternal mental health 31 12 2026 2026-12-31 10.1186/s12913-025-13746-x COLLEGE NANME Psychology School COLLEGE CODE PSYS Swansea University Other Hywel Dda University Health Board 2026-01-08T14:54:45.5388191 2026-01-08T14:44:23.8024668 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Psychology Filiz Celik 1 Rachel Harrad 2 Robert Keasley 3 Paul Bennett 4 71216__35927__dc3129ec134c4f86b0067f73144c49a9.pdf 12913_2025_Article_13746.pdf 2026-01-08T14:44:23.7759983 Output 1580439 application/pdf Version of Record true © The Author(s) 2025. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Experiences of early parenthood in and beyond the coronavirus pandemic: a qualitative study with expectant and new mothers
spellingShingle Experiences of early parenthood in and beyond the coronavirus pandemic: a qualitative study with expectant and new mothers
Filiz Celik
Rachel Harrad
Robert Keasley
Paul Bennett
title_short Experiences of early parenthood in and beyond the coronavirus pandemic: a qualitative study with expectant and new mothers
title_full Experiences of early parenthood in and beyond the coronavirus pandemic: a qualitative study with expectant and new mothers
title_fullStr Experiences of early parenthood in and beyond the coronavirus pandemic: a qualitative study with expectant and new mothers
title_full_unstemmed Experiences of early parenthood in and beyond the coronavirus pandemic: a qualitative study with expectant and new mothers
title_sort Experiences of early parenthood in and beyond the coronavirus pandemic: a qualitative study with expectant and new mothers
author_id_str_mv fa3b66a6d140d7ead7907869ee9448e7
9763e204db1ffbf098a5c7735f931ff8
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author_id_fullname_str_mv fa3b66a6d140d7ead7907869ee9448e7_***_Filiz Celik
9763e204db1ffbf098a5c7735f931ff8_***_Rachel Harrad
d0f7c1b27fc2eba5dde9342d242a9f4e_***_Robert Keasley
20803717bf274c582f30f80916c596d3_***_Paul Bennett
author Filiz Celik
Rachel Harrad
Robert Keasley
Paul Bennett
author2 Filiz Celik
Rachel Harrad
Robert Keasley
Paul Bennett
format Journal article
container_title BMC Health Services Research
container_volume 26
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publishDate 2026
institution Swansea University
issn 1472-6963
doi_str_mv 10.1186/s12913-025-13746-x
publisher Springer Nature
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str School of Psychology{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Psychology
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description The term ‘Perinatal’ incorporates pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. The perinatal period is of significance in both the individual and familial life cycle, an experience shared by the wider social network and community. Yet, it can be a time where the impact of pre-existing and emerging mental health problems could necessitate specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services (PMHS) support via the National Health Service (NHS). The COVID-19 pandemic is considered to have added adverse impacts on Perinatal Mental Health (PMH), with questions on the lived experience remaining largely unanswered. The current study focussed on the experiences of a unique user group, women who were currently in receipt of perinatal mental health support during the pandemic and considered the context in which this service was received via the NHS within Wales. Semi-structured interviews with 21 expectant and new mothers were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) establishing four main themes of: 1. Disrupted Perinatal Medical Care during the COVID-19 pandemic; 2. Becoming a Parent in Social Isolation; 3. Managing Perinatal Health Through PMHS; 4. Parenthood beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic caused concerns and worries amongst pregnant, birthing, and post-partum women and that diminished opportunities for social support during that time created an adverse mental health impact upon them. Overall, COVID-19 appears to have a ripple effect on women and their families experiencing the perinatal period during pandemic. Participants largely attributed the causes of their poorer experiences to the pandemic by identifying it as a contributor to their heightened perinatal mental distress and at times as sole cause for their referral to Perinatal Mental Health Services. The research generates information and knowledge that highlights the unique needs of the perinatal population in future pandemics and crises, with both short and long-term implications for parents, babies and families.
published_date 2026-12-31T05:34:44Z
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