Parents’ perspectives of discharge information and support for their newborn baby during COVID-19: a cross-sectional survey

Background There was no scientific knowledge available about parenting in a pandemic at the start of this study. The study was necessary to ascertain parents’ experiences, sources of information and support. Methods A cross-sectional online survey, recruiting via social media during July - August 2020, in collaboration with two local Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership groups in three rural English counties. Participants were parents of newborn babies who had been discharged from a maternity unit or had a home birth. Responses were analysed using descriptive statistical, thematic and content analysis. Results Participants (N=371) were predominantly mothers (n=369, 99.4%), aged between 25-34 (n=252, 67.8%), fit and healthy (n=314, 85%), white British (n=351, 94,5%) on maternity leave (n=252, 67.9%) and for half of the participants this was their first baby (n=186, 50.1%). Three sub-themes included: lack of information (antenatally and postnatally), lack of professional support and social support (which linked to the impact of ‘no partner’ restrictions). Lack of support for breastfeeding or feeding problems impacted mothers’ experiences. Parents relied on information from online sources and social media due to the lack of specific professional advice about the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic for their baby. A challenge for mothers was the lack of support for breastfeeding or feeding problems Conclusion Parents navigated their postnatal journey without the anticipated support from professionals or their normal social support networks, relying on information from online sources and social media due to a lack of pandemic specific information from professionals. Reduced postnatal services negatively affected the information and support received by new parents.