Provider-Patient Strategic Communication Among Women Pregnant During the COVID-19 Pandemic

When COVID-19 spread rapidly across the globe, it sparked a great deal of uncertainty. This was particularly true for expectant parents, who were already navigating increased uncertainty. Extant research demonstrates the important role prenatal healthcare workers play in helping expectant mothers navigate pregnancy. This study presupposes that obstetricians would serve as an important resource for expectant mothers as the pandemic began. Twenty pregnant women were interviewed in July and August of 2020 about their experiences navigating pregnancy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings illustrate the magnitude of their uncertainty, and the role obstetricians played in their search for information about pregnancy and delivery in the time of COVID-19.