An updated and extended literature review of father and partner fears of childbirth & an IPA analysis of experiences of social isolation for first-time mothers with pre-existing anxiety during COVID-19

As part of the fulfilment of a Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, the author presents this thesis investigating perinatal anxiety-related experiences at different points in the transition to parenthood. This investigation includes a literature review of father and partner experiences related to fears of childbirth (FOC), and an analysis of first-time mothers with pre-existing anxiety and their experiences related to social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Paper one presents a systematically conducted review of the literature on father and partner FOC. Eighteen papers were identified and the findings were critically appraised, analysed, and synthesised. Six key themes are discussed, illustrating what is known about how fathers/partners develop, experience, and cope with FOC. Paper two presents a qualitative study of first-time mothers living in England with pre-existing anxiety, and their experiences related to social isolation in the context of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Purposive sampling identified six eligible participants who took part in semi-structured interviews. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was utilised and revealed four superordinate and twelve subordinate themes, highlighting experiences of new motherhood and social isolation, and their influence on mental health, coping, and accessing support in the context of a pandemic. Paper three is an executive summary which has been prepared as an accessible report of paper two, targeted at those who were new parents during the COVID-19 pandemic, mothers with histories of anxiety-related difficulties, mothers who are at risk of feeling socially isolated, and professionals who support new mothers. The background, aims, method, key findings, implications, recommendations and limitations of the empirical study are summarised.