Pandemic Nanay: Challenges and Coping Strategies of Working First-Time Mothers During the Pandemic

Pandemic Nanay: Challenges and Coping Strategies of Working First-Time Mothers During the Pandemic

*¹ Ria I. Dela Merced, ²Allen Grace M. Sarmiento

¹ College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Bulacan State University

²College of Business Education and Administration, Bulacan State University

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.81100013

Received: 26 October 2024; Accepted: 29 October 2024; Published: 27 November 2024

ABSTRACT

The pandemic profoundly affected the lives of people across the globe. Apart from being socially cut off, it brought changes, disrupting routine. Undeniably, the pandemic took a toll, especially on working women who experienced their first childbirth at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Hence, it is imperative to assess and analyze the challenges working first-time mothers face during these trying times. This descriptive narrative research delved into the challenges encountered by working first-time mothers and the coping strategies they imply in relation to these challenges. The majority of mothers consider their physical, financial, and emotional conditions as significant challenges during pregnancy and even after childbirth. However, results showed these challenges indirectly affected their work productivity, particularly during pregnancy. On the other hand, open communication, time management, and family support are the most common coping strategies that helped them overcome the challenges. Discriminating policies about employment status is one of the issues raised in terms of maternal benefits. With an average grand mean of 4.13, working first-time mothers agree that they received relevant post-natal support. Consequently, it is proposed that more policies supporting working mothers, regardless of employment status, be created.

Key words: Pandemic, Challenges, Coping Strategies, First time mothers, Productivity

INTRODUCTION

Millions of women celebrated their first Mother’s Day last May 2021, showing that their transition to motherhood occurred in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Preparing for childbirth can be joyful and exciting for first-time or experienced mothers. However, at the same time, it is also a critical moment and a potentially stressful experience (Molgora & Accordini, 2020). Unfortunately, women who conceived and gave birth during the pandemic were believed to encounter different forms of distress, such as disrupted prenatal and postnatal care, mothers who were forced to deliver their infants without support from the family or no one by their side, and others who faced separation from their newborns due to covid health restrictions and protocols (Morris & Saxbe, 2021).

Many women experience the transition to motherhood as a significant developmental life event. First-time mothers often describe it as stressful, challenging to cope with, and having poor emotional well-being. True enough, according to Mercer (2004), becoming a mother involves moving from a known or current reality to an unknown or new reality. That is why experienced mothers often advise first-timers that having children is generally intense, both physically and emotionally. On another note, first-time working mothers’ experience differs from those not working. Following Novak (2020), juggling the responsibilities of a job and a new baby may seem impossible, not to mention the ongoing pandemic.

Motherhood changes the whole life of women, adding to the responsibility of raising a child. This also changes their experiences and perceptions in their personal life and work lives. As a result, the study’s objective is to assess the challenges and coping strategies of working first-time mothers during the pandemic. Given the respondents’ situation, the study sought to find the significant and personal adjustments made by first-time mothers to cope with the challenges of motherhood and work. In addition, the study also looked at the postnatal support that first-time mothers received from their families and workplaces. Depending on the result, the study aimed to propose an output designed to give additional postnatal support to working mothers.

METHODS

Research Design

With the ongoing pandemic, motherhood has become an extra challenging job. While it is difficult to juggle work and raise a child, mothers fear going back to work and being infected by the virus. The pandemic has brought anxiety along with many other challenges to first-time mothers. To cope with these challenges, support from families and a favorable working environment are very significant. For this purpose, the main aim of this study is to determine and assess the challenges encountered and the coping mechanisms used by working first-time mothers. In order to achieve this objective, the researchers used narrative and descriptive approaches as methods in this study. The narrative research approach focuses on getting and understanding experiences through stories or narrative telling (Delve & Limpaecher, 2020). It involves collecting and analyzing individual stories, emphasizing their experiences, interpretations, perspectives, and cultural contexts. Furthermore, as explained by Casteel and Bridier (2021) descriptive research looks at the population’s characteristics, identifies the problems within a unit, an organization, or a population, or looks at variations in characteristics or practices between institutions or even in countries.

Population and Sample Size

Researchers evaluated ten (10) first-time working mothers from Bulacan State University for the respondents. The employees must have given birth to their first child from 2020 to 2022 and must be an employee (faculty or non-academic personnel) of the university for at least three years. The respondents answered a survey questionnaire for the assessment on the post-natal support and were subjected to a semi-structured, in-depth interview for their experiences, challenges, and coping mechanisms. They were chosen through purposive and convenience sampling regarding the ongoing pandemic. Through in-depth interviews, the researchers identified and evaluated the challenges encountered by the participants as working first-time mothers and the coping mechanisms that have been useful to them.

Moreover, to ensure the voluntary participation of the participants in the interview and to complete the research study with appropriate results, ethical considerations, wherein ethical aspects were given to the concerned informants of the study so that they can provide the complete data the study needs. The first ethical consideration was getting their consent before gathering the data. This ensures that the informants are willing to share their information to be used as data for the study. The second was to give the concerned informants enough time to prepare for the interview and answer the interview questions, and lastly, to ensure the informants that the information collected would only be used for the study and their identity would not be exhibited. This is to make the informants feel safe about the survey and that no conflict may exist or arise.

Data Analysis

The study employed thematic analysis as a means of data analysis. According to Boyatzis (as cited in Braun & Clarke, 2006), thematic analysis is a method for identifying, analyzing and reporting patterns or themes within data. It minimally organizes and describes data set in rich detail. In thematic analysis, the researchers first transcribed the respondents’ statements from the recorded interviews. After being immersed and familiar with the data, the study would generate concise labels to identify essential data features relevant to answering the research questions. This is known as codes. Wargo (as cited in Saldaña, 2009) defined code as “a word or short phrase that symbolically assigns a summative, salient, essence-capturing, and evocative attribute for a portion of language-based or visual data” (p.3). After coding, the search for themes from the generated codes was performed. The themes that were made would then be subjected to review. This was to determine if the themes tell a convincing data story and if they help answer the research questions. The final step would be producing the report. This phase pertains to the weaving of the analytic narrative and extracted data. After these, the data were interpreted and analyzed as results. In addition, the study used descriptive statistics in the form of weighted mean to analyze the results gathered from the survey questionnaires regarding assessing the post-natal support of first-time working mothers.

RESULTS

Post-Natal Support

Table 1. Assessment on the Post-natal Support in terms of Personal Relationships

Personal relationships during postnatal stay in the hospital. Personal connections can be complex and multifaceted during a postpartum hospital stay. As the parents recently shared a life-altering event of childbirth, the new mother and her partner are probably feeling extremely close. On the other hand, they could be stressed out and worn out, which might cause tension and conflict. Based on the computed grand mean of 4.62, the first-time mothers strongly agree that they were treated by their partners, family, and hospital staff with care and respect. Furthermore, with a mean score of 4.80, it was shown that the healthcare personnel cared about them and their child. Also, in terms of arrangements for the visitation of partners or family members, things are arranged, which makes first-time mothers comfortable with a mean of 4.30. Per Malouf, Henderson, and Alderdice (2019), during the first-time mother’s postpartum stay in the hospital, they may experience powerful feelings of vulnerability and insecurity. One might be finding it difficult to adjust to the mental and emotional changes her body is undergoing and might be unsure of her capacity to care for her new child. This may hamper the ability to maintain close relationships with others. Therefore, it is crucial to provide the appropriate care at the hospital immediately.

Table 2. Assessment on the Post-natal Support in terms of Information and Guidance

Information and Guidance. A few delivery problems can be severe, but they are frequently curable if they are caught early enough. A mother’s and her family’s ability to recognize the warning signs and symptoms of problems can help them seek immediate medical attention if necessary. With this, postnatal care information and advice can help, and based on the gathered data from first-time mothers, they agree with a grand mean of 4.00. Moreover, the child’s development and health, including vaccines, became the priority of first-time mothers, with a mean of 4.10, respectively. Meanwhile, any possible mood changes after giving birth only garnered a mean score of 3.60. This shows that first-time mothers do not care much about their possible mood changes as all their attention is given to their newborns. According to Moldenhauer (2022), after childbirth, a mother can expect to experience some physical changes and symptoms that usually range from mild to temporary. However, severe health issues are rare; it is still vital for mothers to be given enough information and guidance, as changes in the body can lead to health conditions like bleeding, problems in urination and bowel movements, and low levels of stamina.

Table 3. Assessment on the Post-natal Support in terms of Practical

Practical. For a mother’s and her child’s long-term health, postpartum care is essential. Rather than a one-time event, it should be a continuous process with services catering to each woman’s specific requirements. Based on the gathered data on the practical area of postnatal support, first-time working mothers agreed on the overall statements showing that they received practical postnatal care from their partner/husband and family with a grand mean of 3.78. It is also important to note that first-time mothers are not embarrassed by their family caring for them, with a mean of 1.90. Additionally, it makes first-time mothers confident in getting more advice on how to breastfeed a baby effectively, with a mean of 4.40. In accordance with the World Health Organization (2015), it is a must to strengthen postnatal care at home through the help and support of partners and family members, as the days and weeks following childbirth are crucial for the physical and mental health of the mothers.

The following data below are obtained from the semi-structured interview. This part of the study described the working conditions, productivity, challenges, and coping strategies of working first-time mothers during pregnancy, during childbirth, and after giving birth.

Working Conditions

Based on the interview, participants revealed that it is challenging to work during the pandemic. At the same time, they are pregnant as they are first-timers and need to be careful in moving since they are carrying a baby inside them. According to one informant, “When I peaked in the third trimester, It was hard to go upstairs; I needed to go to the 4th-floor building for my work.” Also, one of them revealed that it was hard since her pregnancy was sensitive. As stated by the informant, “It is difficult because there are many things to worry about, and I am a delicate pregnant woman. But I persevere because life is tough”.

Meanwhile, others were fortunate to have a work-from-home set-up, making their working conditions not challenging, and they could conveniently perform duties at work and home. As stated, “I mainly work from home during the pandemic, so it was convenient. I could continue working and caring for my duties as a mother, nurturing my infant safely in our home, simultaneously without sacrificing one for the other”. Concerning Kotlar et al. (2021), during the pandemic, workplace circumstances for expectant moms have been problematic since the virus can cause severe illnesses in pregnant women and may also raise the risk of complications, including stillbirth and preterm birth.

Challenges experienced during pregnancy

Based on the study result, participants experienced challenges regarding their physical condition. These include morning sickness due to pregnancy hormones and difficulty moving. One of the responses, “The fear of getting infected with the virus, me or my baby.” signifies that one of the challenges is the fear of contracting the virus. However, despite these challenges, participants still find themselves productive at work. This is because the pandemic made working from home the new way of working for millions of employees worldwide, as Galanti et al. (2021) mentioned. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, employees had to switch suddenly from physical reporting to working remotely. The convenience and flexibility of work-from-home setup were favorable for pregnant employees during the pandemic, allowing them to rest while being productive in the comfort of their homes.

Challenges experienced during childbirth

Data obtained from the interviewed participants showed that the significant challenges they experienced during the pandemic were their overall conditions. To cite some of the responses, participants said, “The strict protocols in hospitals, we needed repeated RT-PCR tests. It was more expensive to give birth then”, and “Transportation was difficult, so we borrowed cars from relatives or acquaintances.” Meanwhile, a participant said, “The paranoia of getting infected with the virus, especially since we were in the hospital.” This indicates that the overall conditions at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic caused physical, financial, and mental stress among pregnant women. In an article by Boals and Banks (2020), they discussed the inevitable cognitive impact of the pandemic that increases everyone’s stress and anxiety levels. Pregnant women and babies, being highly vulnerable during the pandemic, were significantly affected by this pandemic-related stress.

Challenges experienced while working after childbirth

Based on the result, participants commonly experienced financial and emotional difficulties after childbirth. Having limited support from family members alongside a strict budget. A participant said, “There is no maternity leave because I am not a regular employee, so no work means no pay.”. Another one said, “I feel like they take better care of my baby than I do as a mother, who should take care of him.” Furthermore, their duties contributed positively and negatively to their productivity at work. Some participants said they learned to balance their time and responsibilities and became proactive in not compromising work or motherhood.

Productivity at work during pregnancy

Work productivity varies from woman to woman during pregnancy. Some report being as equally productive as they were prior to becoming pregnant, while others report seeing a decline in their output. Numerous causes, such as exhaustion, nausea, and other pregnancy discomforts, are the reason for this. As stated by the respondents, “It gave me more courage and drove me to work as the setup was favorable.” Another is, “Since it was a work-from-home setup, I think it was advantageous both for me and my work. Had I been pregnant during face-to-face classes, I would have to lessen my workload and be picky about my loading, considering that I would not be able to walk a lot due to my pregnancy. With the work-from-home setup, I could teach as if I was not pregnant, and my head will not be bothered to select classes that are near the faculty room to accommodate my pregnancy”. This means the work-from-home setup benefited first-time working mothers even with the pandemic. Others who are not working from home experience difficulties like walking upstairs. According to them, “When my belly got bigger, it was difficult for me to move around, and it was also hard for me to receive papers. So I had to ask others to receive them for me,” and “it was hard to go to different offices related to my work. I need to go downstairs because I am working in a 4th-floor building”. Employers can have a significant impact on how pregnant workers are supported during the pandemic and how they stay productive. To retain their productivity throughout the pandemic, pregnant women can also take precautions to safeguard themselves at work (Occupational Health & Safety, 2020).

Productivity at work after giving birth

For women, giving birth to a child is a significant transformation that has both physical and psychological effects. Reentering the workforce after giving birth is challenging since it affects both the mother’s well-being and the results of her employment. As for the productivity at work of first-time working mothers after giving birth, informants have experienced positive changes. They revealed, “Yes. I became more productive, and I was able to finish my work faster so I could see my baby right away”. Another is, “I do not think so. My superb support system allows me to work and stay on track with my career even after having a baby. I would say having a baby motivated me to work even more and obtain more sidelines to prepare for her future”. On the other hand; first-time mothers also experienced negative changes. Like, “Baby care demands a lot of time and attention, and so consumes all the energy, not to mention the household chores to be taken care of too. Hormones are still finding their way back. Emotions are difficult to manage. Body healing is not respected”. Also, “I often stay up late because I care for my child after work. I am often late. Before going to work, I take care of my child”. The study’s findings are similar to Chung and Horst (2017), who found evidence that women continue to work after the birth of their first child because of the flexible work arrangements that may make it easier for new mothers to adjust to going back to work while also taking care of their baby. This also advances our understanding of work-life balance, which can be used to preserve and improve people’s professional capacity during heightened family obligations.

Coping strategies during pregnancy

First-time mothers face several challenges during pregnancy, both physical and emotional. In addition to these, they may also face specific challenges depending on their circumstances. In the cases of the informants, they experienced being pregnant for the first time at the height of the pandemic. Given the challenges they experienced, they revealed that they got to cope with the challenges during their pregnancy with the help of their partners and parents. As stated, “involve my husband in whatever I am experiencing. In that way, I do not feel alone in the ‘newness’ of the experience”. Another is, “I followed all the advice of my parents about pregnancy.” Both the mother and the unborn child require support during pregnancy. Their partner, family, friends, and other supporting individuals should be the ones surrounding them. These people can help them emotionally and practically throughout their pregnancy journey. Concerning Colmenares (2022), during the time of the pandemic, to help pregnant women during pregnancy, spouse and family presence are essential. Their assistance can enhance the mother’s physical and mental well-being and help to foster a happy and secure environment for the baby.

Coping strategies after childbirth

The postpartum period is the time after childbirth when the body is healing and returning to its pre-pregnant state. Several women experience physical and emotional changes during the postpartum period. Coping with the postpartum period can be challenging during the pandemic, but some things can make it easier for first-time mothers. According to the informants, “seek help and choose a good environment. I stayed with my mother for 5 months to assist me with motherhood”. Another is time management, wherein “divide your time well. Do not let either work or family be neglected.” Also, “still, the support system I have was probably the best coping mechanism I had. My family was full of support, driving me to and from the office, the management allowing accommodations in terms of schedule and loading, and the faculty being reliable and assisting me during my first few days at work after giving birth”. Both the mother and the child need postpartum care. It can help ensure that the baby is healthy and thriving and help the mother’s physical and mental well-being. Numerous medical specialists can offer postpartum care, including obstetricians, midwives, family physicians, and nurse practitioners. Nevertheless, what matters most is the love and support first-time mothers receive from their partners and families (Gonzales & Kopparapu, 2022).

Coping strategies while working after giving birth

Coping strategies while working during the pandemic after giving birth can be challenging. Yet there are ways to achieve the balance between being a first-time mother and working at the same time. As stated by the informants, “transparency with my supervisors–they were aware of my status and gave me enough support with my workloads.” Also, “be more organized and plan everything”. According to The Bub Society (2022), one of the biggest challenges for many mothers is to return to work with guilt since they are leaving their children for work. It is an entirely normal feeling, and employers and co-employees can help returning working mothers by considering their workload level. According to one of the informants, time management is also essential and impacts coping strategies while working; as stated, “I adjusted to myself. I tried to overcome the challenges I experienced for the first time as a mother”.

DISCUSSION

To sum up, researchers discovered that most working first-time- mothers felt that relevant postnatal support was given to them. This was after obtaining an average grand mean of 4.13 from the accomplished questionnaire. Personal relationships during a postnatal stay in the hospital, information and guidance, and practical obtained a grand mean of 4.62, 4.0, and 3.78, respectively. Meanwhile, most mothers appear to be emotionally, physically, and financially challenged during and after childbirth. Data gathered from the interview revealed that (1) Mothers demand emotional support, especially after giving birth. They were recovering from the birthing procedure while attending to the needs of their newborn. (2) During pregnancy and even after childbirth, most mothers experience difficulty in their mobility, particularly in some cases of high-risk pregnancies. (3) Because of the pandemic, birthing costs became higher. They incurred additional costs for RT-PCR tests, medical workers’ protective equipment, and other related expenses. This was most challenging for mothers working as contractual or employees by job order. Because of their employment status, they do not have paid maternity leave and work on a “no work, no pay” basis. Moreover, first-time mothers still appear productive at work despite being pregnant. However, this somehow changed after giving birth. This was because their role as a mother utilized more of their time and energy. In some emergencies, they arrive late or leave their workstation earlier than expected.

Mothers also employed some strategies that helped them cope with these challenges. Some of these are open communication, support from family members, proper planning, and time management. However, no specific strategy was employed concerning their financial situation at the time of their childbirth. Since employment status is a prerequisite to enjoying paid maternity leave, some mothers felt that there was a discriminatory policy regarding receiving other maternity benefits.

Considering this, the researchers propose a more comprehensive policy that will support mothers regardless of their employment status. As may be recommended, this will (1) provide mothers, especially those with newborn babies, with a safe space and flexible work schedule without compromising their benefits, (2)give longer breastfeeding breaks for lactating mothers, (3), if possible, secure a monetary fund that they may use during maternity leave. Despite the existing laws and policy benefits intended for mothers, most women still need relevant support to empower them and help them grow professionally and in motherhood.

CONCLUSION

Motherhood limits women in many ways, like mobility, community life, fellowship, or career progression. No one can truly comprehend the difficulties of motherhood other than the mothers themselves. While coping with motherhood-related challenges varies from one woman to another, it is vital to know how society can help them ease the problematic dual roles of employee and mother. Considering this, the researchers propose a more comprehensive policy that will support mothers regardless of their employment status. As may be recommended, this will (1) provide mothers, especially those with newborn babies, with a safe space and flexible work schedule without compromising their benefits, (2) give longer breastfeeding breaks for lactating mothers, (3), if possible, secure a monetary fund that they may use during maternity leave. Despite the existing laws and policy benefits intended for mothers, most women still need relevant support to empower them and help them grow professionally and in motherhood.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors would like to acknowledge Bulacan State University- Gender and Development Center for funding this research project. The same sincere gratitude is also extended to this study’s participants, instrument validators, and colleagues for their unending support.

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