COVID-19 mothers' mother-baby bonding, feeding practices, postnatal care experiences in Qatar: A mixed-methods approach.

Introduction: The study aim was to examine mother-infant bonding, feeding practices, and postnatal care experiences of mothers diagnosed with COVID-19 in hospital settings from 2020 to 2022.

Methods: A mixed-methods research design was conducted, involving 117 participants in a cross-sectional online survey and 11 phone interviews. The study was conducted among mothers diagnosed with COVID-19 by PCR test and admitted to four maternity facilities in Qatar from 1 May 2020 to 16 January 2022. The Postnatal Bonding Questionnaire was used to examine mother-baby bonding, and interviews were conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the overall postnatal experience. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and ANOVA were applied to analyze associations between postnatal bonding scores and various factors.

Results: Participants had a postnatal bonding mean score of ≥12, which indicated impaired bonding (mean=12.0, SD=4.7). Mode of birth and postnatal bonding scores were correlated, especially those with instrumental deliveries (mean=30.2, SD=12.0, p<0.001). Five themes emerged illustrating the respondents' adaptive strategies and the build-up of impaired bonding during the pandemic. These themes underscored the need for support in enhancing mothers' coping and resilience to the challenges during the pandemic.

Conclusions: The pandemic has significantly impacted maternal-infant bonding, as evidenced by increased reports of maternal stress, reduced physical contact, and limitations on partner support. Midwives and other healthcare professionals play a pivotal role in supporting, educating, and reassuring women about providing safe, high-quality care during the crisis. Further research is essential to develop evidence-based guidelines and to examine the long-term consequences of disrupted bonding on infant development.