{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,15]],"date-time":"2026-05-15T18:11:30Z","timestamp":1778868690794,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,15]],"date-time":"2026-05-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1778803200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Swedish Research Council funding for clinical research in medicine","award":["19040\/19046"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["19040\/19046"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected the emotional well-being of pregnant women. In Sweden, no national lockdown was implemented; instead, healthcare restrictions were imposed, most notably limiting partner involvement in perinatal care. This marked a significant shift from standard practices that emphasize partner participation as a key component for maternal support and well-being. This study aimed to explore women\u2019s experiences of being pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative interview study was conducted in Sweden, including 30 pregnant women. The data were analyzed using content analysis with an inductive approach. Four overarching themes were identified: Living in the Shadow of the Pandemic, Missing Out on the Shared Journey, Unpredictability Creates Worry and Fear, and Adaptation and Growth in a Threatening World. The findings describe pregnant women\u2019s experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic as a period marked by vulnerability, partner exclusion, uncertainty and emotional strain. However, many participants also demonstrated resilience and developed adaptive strategies. A recurring desire emerged for more inclusive, consistent healthcare practices and clearer communication tailored to the needs of expectant families. The findings highlight the importance of patient-centered, accessible perinatal healthcare and contribute to the existing research by emphasizing the role of support systems and national guidelines in safeguarding maternal and family well-being during future pandemics.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0349378","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,15]],"date-time":"2026-05-15T17:33:50Z","timestamp":1778866430000},"page":"e0349378","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["A solo journey in the shadow of a double-edged pandemic: A qualitative study of women\u2019s experience of being pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"21","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-4147-1947","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Ylva-Li","family":"Lindahl","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Helene","family":"Nor\u00e9n","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Andrea Hess","family":"Engstr\u00f6m","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4553-6656","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Maria","family":"Grandahl","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Cecilia","family":"\u00c5slund","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"pone.0349378.ref001","volume-title":"WHO Director-General\u2019s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 - 11 March 2020","author":"World Health Organization"},{"key":"pone.0349378.ref002","unstructured":"World Health Organization. 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