“It Shook My Whole Parenting Plan”: Parents’ Experiences of Being at Home with Their Newborn Baby During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Gaskin, Kerry and Hope, Lucy and Lewis, Alison (2024) “It Shook My Whole Parenting Plan”: Parents’ Experiences of Being at Home with Their Newborn Baby During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Nursing, 47 (3). pp. 197-213. ISSN 2469-4193

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Abstract

A cross-sectional online survey was undertaken (July–August 2020) to ascertain parents’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic of being at home with their newborn baby in the first 6 weeks. Participants (n = 371) were mostly biological mothers (n = 369, 99.4%), white British (n = 351, 94,5%), first baby (n = 186, 50%). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between maternal confidence and number of children (rho (369) = 0.295, p < .001) and baby’s age at time of participation (rho (369) = 0.139, p = .009). Participants without higher educational qualifications (median = 62, SIQR = 3.5) had statistically significant higher confidence (U = 11831.500, p < .001) than participants with higher educational qualifications (median = 58, SIQR = 2). Parents of babies without health issues at birth (median, 61, SIQR = 3.5) had statistically significant higher confidence (U = 13213.500, p < .001) than parents of babies with health issues at birth (median = 58, SIQR = 5). Three qualitative themes have emerged: the impact of “no partner” restrictions; mixed emotions and lack of information and support. In conclusion, parenting during a pandemic created anxiety and fear, affected by “no partner” restrictions, not being allowed to appointments, scans, and during labor. Some parents were more confident and indicated benefits including heightening bonding with baby and partner during social distancing.

Item Type: Article
Identification Number: 10.1080/24694193.2024.2389415
Dates:
Date
Event
29 July 2024
Accepted
16 August 2024
Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords: COVID-19, parents, discharge, psychological impact, confidence
Subjects: CAH02 - subjects allied to medicine > CAH02-04 - nursing and midwifery > CAH02-04-04 - midwifery
Divisions: Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences > College of Nursing and Midwifery
Depositing User: Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited: 22 Oct 2024 13:22
Last Modified: 22 Oct 2024 13:22
URI: https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/15916

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