Adaptation strategies for preparing for childbirth in the context of the pandemic: Roy's Theory.
Letícia Pickler, Margarete Maria de Lima, Ariane Thaise Frello Roque and 5 others
PMID 39082535WHAT IT FOUND
Pregnant women described feeling less alone and more prepared when virtual childbirth groups gave reliable information, relaxation practice, and partner involvement.
They said this helped them face birth despite pandemic fears.
Key findings
01Women described pandemic-related stress and insecurity, especially physical restrictions that left them away from their support network.
02Women reported that learning childbirth physiology, relaxation exercises, comfortable positions, and pain management strategies in the group was positive.
03Women said information and emotional preparation made childbirth feel more familiar, and they believed birth could be positive when they felt prepared and supported.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The women were from a university project in a specific region of Brazil, so their experiences may not match other settings. The sample was small and voluntary, and women who already felt connected to the project may have been more likely to take part. The study reports experiences and themes, not effects. The interviewer had already known participants through the project, which may shape what women shared. The group included education, support, and partner involvement at the same time, so the study cannot separate which part mattered.
Declared interests
The work was supported by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel - Brazil (CAPES).
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that virtual childbirth groups improve birth outcomes. The study reports women's experiences from a university project, not tested effects.