Anxiety and Depression Among Pregnant Women During COVID-19 Pandemic

Pregnancy and early parenthood are life changing periods characterized by intense emotions and a high vulnerability to emotional problems. Overall 10 - 20 % of pregnant women and women in early postpartum period suffer from mental health problems. In the first months of 2020 , pregnant and breastfeeding women have also needed to face the COVID19 pandemic including the exceptional quarantine measures that have disturbed private and professional life . In addition to the fear of infection , these measures might have negatively impacted the emotional wellbeing of women . As depressive symptoms and anxiety in the pre and peripartum period have been associated with adverse maternal , neonatal and infant outcomes , the psychological impact of COVID19 , and its associated quarantine measures , on pregnant women and new mothers is cause for concern