Childbirth experience and practice changing during COVID-19 pandemic: a
prospective cohort study.
Abstract
Objective: To compare mothers’ satisfaction at birth and intrapartum
care during COVID-19 pandemic compared to a pre-COVID cohort. Design:
Prospective cohort study Setting: Low risk maternity unit in Northern
Italy Population: Women who delivered during COVID-19 pandemic compared
to a pre-COVID cohort recruited in the same setting in February-May,
2018. Methods: Italian version of the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised
(I-BSS-R) was used. Main Outcome Measures: Satisfaction at birth in
relation to socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric history and
intrapartum care variables. Results: 377 women were included (277
pre-COVID and 100 during COVID pandemic). A higher rate of induction
[40%, COVID versus 25% pre-COVID, p 0.004], fewer active phases
>12 h [6% COVID versus 15% pre-COVID, p 0.018] and
more acceleration with oxytocin [35% COVID versus 24.9% pre-COVID, p
0.05] were found. No differences in terms of satisfaction at birth
were reported (I-BSS-R mean 27.0, SD 5.3 versus mean 27.6, SD 6.1, p
0.34). Intrapartum variables that significantly reduced maternal
satisfaction were the same in the two groups: epidural analgesia
(p< 0.0001 in both groups), prolonged active phases (p
< 0.0001 in both), oxytocin administration (p<0.0001
in both) and operative delivery (p 0.0009 versus p 0.0019). The lowest
scores in COVID era were found in those who underwent induction of
labor, active phases >12 h and CS in labor. Conclusions: No
differences were reported concerning global satisfaction at birth,
despite an increased rate of active intrapartum intervention. Keywords:
Childbirth experience, COVID-19, intrapartum intervention