Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on expectant and new parents’ experience of pregnancy, childbirth, breast feeding, parental responsiveness and sensitivity, and bonding and attunement in high-income countries: a systematic review of the evidence
Objectives To review the evidence on how pregnancy, birth experience, breast feeding, parental responsiveness and sensitivity, and bonding and attunement were impacted by COVID-19.Methods We searched eight literature databases and websites of relevant UK-based organisations. The review focused on ev...
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BMJ Publishing Group
2022-12-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/12/e066963.full |
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| author | Judith Rankin Malcolm Moffat Gillian Turner Maria Raisa Jessica Aquino Adenike Motunrayo Adesanya Simon Barrett Wendy Nicholson Emma Cook Sarah Tyndall |
| author_facet | Judith Rankin Malcolm Moffat Gillian Turner Maria Raisa Jessica Aquino Adenike Motunrayo Adesanya Simon Barrett Wendy Nicholson Emma Cook Sarah Tyndall |
| author_sort | Judith Rankin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives To review the evidence on how pregnancy, birth experience, breast feeding, parental responsiveness and sensitivity, and bonding and attunement were impacted by COVID-19.Methods We searched eight literature databases and websites of relevant UK-based organisations. The review focused on evidence during pregnancy and the early years (0–5 years). Studies of any study design published in English from 1 March 2020 to 15 March 2021 and conducted in high-income countries were included. Screening and data extraction were undertaken in duplicate. Evidence was synthesised using a narrative approach. Study quality of included studies was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.Results The search yielded 9776 publications, of which 26 met our inclusion criteria. Significant knowledge gaps on how COVID-19 affected pregnancy and breast feeding limited healthcare providers’ ability to provide consistent evidence-based information and care at the start of the pandemic. There was an enduring sense of loss about loved ones being restricted from taking part in key moments. Parents were concerned about the limitations of virtual healthcare provision. Some parents reported more opportunities for responsive breast feeding and improved parent–infant bonding due to reduced social and work pressures. Women from minoritised ethnic groups were less likely to continue breast feeding and attributed this to a lack of face-to-face support.Conclusions The evidence suggests that new and expectant families have been both negatively and positively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting restrictions. The impacts on parents’ opportunities to bond with their young children and to be attuned to their needs were felt unequally. It is important that emergency response policies consider the mother and the partner as a family unit when making changes to the delivery of maternal and child health and care services, so as to mitigate the impact on the family and existing health inequalities.PROSPERO registration number CRD42021236769. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a1acd35ea4e2478ead93ce679700a3e2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-a1acd35ea4e2478ead93ce679700a3e22025-08-20T03:11:20ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552022-12-01121210.1136/bmjopen-2022-066963Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on expectant and new parents’ experience of pregnancy, childbirth, breast feeding, parental responsiveness and sensitivity, and bonding and attunement in high-income countries: a systematic review of the evidenceJudith Rankin0Malcolm Moffat1Gillian Turner2Maria Raisa Jessica Aquino3Adenike Motunrayo Adesanya4Simon Barrett5Wendy Nicholson6Emma Cook7Sarah Tyndall8Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK2 Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UKOffice of Health Improvement and Disparities, UK Department of Health and Social Care, London, UKPopulation Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK1Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UKPopulation Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UKOffice of Health Improvement and Disparities, UK Department of Health and Social Care, London, UKOffice of Health Improvement and Disparities, UK Department of Health and Social Care, London, UKOffice of Health Improvement and Disparities, UK Department of Health and Social Care, London, UKObjectives To review the evidence on how pregnancy, birth experience, breast feeding, parental responsiveness and sensitivity, and bonding and attunement were impacted by COVID-19.Methods We searched eight literature databases and websites of relevant UK-based organisations. The review focused on evidence during pregnancy and the early years (0–5 years). Studies of any study design published in English from 1 March 2020 to 15 March 2021 and conducted in high-income countries were included. Screening and data extraction were undertaken in duplicate. Evidence was synthesised using a narrative approach. Study quality of included studies was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.Results The search yielded 9776 publications, of which 26 met our inclusion criteria. Significant knowledge gaps on how COVID-19 affected pregnancy and breast feeding limited healthcare providers’ ability to provide consistent evidence-based information and care at the start of the pandemic. There was an enduring sense of loss about loved ones being restricted from taking part in key moments. Parents were concerned about the limitations of virtual healthcare provision. Some parents reported more opportunities for responsive breast feeding and improved parent–infant bonding due to reduced social and work pressures. Women from minoritised ethnic groups were less likely to continue breast feeding and attributed this to a lack of face-to-face support.Conclusions The evidence suggests that new and expectant families have been both negatively and positively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting restrictions. The impacts on parents’ opportunities to bond with their young children and to be attuned to their needs were felt unequally. It is important that emergency response policies consider the mother and the partner as a family unit when making changes to the delivery of maternal and child health and care services, so as to mitigate the impact on the family and existing health inequalities.PROSPERO registration number CRD42021236769.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/12/e066963.full |
| spellingShingle | Judith Rankin Malcolm Moffat Gillian Turner Maria Raisa Jessica Aquino Adenike Motunrayo Adesanya Simon Barrett Wendy Nicholson Emma Cook Sarah Tyndall Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on expectant and new parents’ experience of pregnancy, childbirth, breast feeding, parental responsiveness and sensitivity, and bonding and attunement in high-income countries: a systematic review of the evidence BMJ Open |
| title | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on expectant and new parents’ experience of pregnancy, childbirth, breast feeding, parental responsiveness and sensitivity, and bonding and attunement in high-income countries: a systematic review of the evidence |
| title_full | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on expectant and new parents’ experience of pregnancy, childbirth, breast feeding, parental responsiveness and sensitivity, and bonding and attunement in high-income countries: a systematic review of the evidence |
| title_fullStr | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on expectant and new parents’ experience of pregnancy, childbirth, breast feeding, parental responsiveness and sensitivity, and bonding and attunement in high-income countries: a systematic review of the evidence |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on expectant and new parents’ experience of pregnancy, childbirth, breast feeding, parental responsiveness and sensitivity, and bonding and attunement in high-income countries: a systematic review of the evidence |
| title_short | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on expectant and new parents’ experience of pregnancy, childbirth, breast feeding, parental responsiveness and sensitivity, and bonding and attunement in high-income countries: a systematic review of the evidence |
| title_sort | impact of the covid 19 pandemic on expectant and new parents experience of pregnancy childbirth breast feeding parental responsiveness and sensitivity and bonding and attunement in high income countries a systematic review of the evidence |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/12/e066963.full |
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