Midwives' experiences with providing home-based postpartum care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study

Abstract

Aim To explore midwives' experiences with providing home-based postpartum care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway.

Design A descriptive and explorative qualitative study.

Methods The study is based on semi-structured individual interviews with 11 midwives experienced in offering home-based postpartum care. We explored their experiences of such care during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection occurred from October through November 2020. An inductive thematic analysis was performed using Systematic Text Condensation (STC) by Malterud (2012).

Results The following two main results emerged from the analyses: (1) the midwives adapted quickly to changes in postpartum care during the pandemic and (2) midwives saw the experience as an opportunity to re-evaluate their practices.

Conclusion This study highlights midwives' resilience and adaptability during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic. It emphasises the crucial role of face-to-face interactions in postpartum care, while recognising the value of technology when direct access is limited. By shedding light on midwives' experiences, this research contributes to improving postpartum care in unforeseen circumstances. It underscores the significance of interdisciplinary integration in planning postpartum care services and the lasting influence of lessons learned on addressing future challenges.

Implications for Practice The valuable insights gained from lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic may have a lasting influence on the postpartum care system, empowering it to tackle unforeseen challenges both today and in the future.

Impact The current study addressed midwives' experience with providing home-based postpartum care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway. Midwives received an opportunity to re-evaluate their own practices and valued being included when changes were implemented. The current findings should alert policy makers, leaders and clinicians in postpartum care services when planning future practice.