EXPERIÊNCIA DE MULHERES QUE PARIRAM DURANTE A PANDEMIA DA COVID-19

Objective: to describe the experience of women who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study, carried out in Feira de Santana-Ba, remotely with women who gave birth between March 2020 and 2021. For data collection, the snowball methodology was used, and for data analysis it was Bardin’s content, in which 3 categories emerged: Constant presence of fear, anguish and apprehension from pregnancy to childbirth; Home isolation and distance from the support network; and experience of mothering in the pandemic. Results and discussion: Fear was present in all speeches, fear of the pandemic and its impacts on the routine of the home and family. Home isolation and distance from the support network stand out in the speeches, and not being able to experience this moment alongside family and friends, absence of companions in consultations, exams and childbirth and home-office work, in addition to the feelings and challenges that arose in postpartum. Final considerations: The COVID-19 pandemic brought changes in gestation, childbirth and the postpartum experience, generating fear and anguish.