Coronavirus has caused an indelible impact on everyone’s mental health. New mothers and women who are pregnant have been one of the most vulnerable groups during this pandemic.

Psychiatrist Dr Sapna Bangar, who is also the head of Mpower, Mumbai, says that the pandemic adds an overwhelming feeling for pregnant women and new mothers. She says, “For a woman, feeling stressed during pregnancy is common with worries about the wellbeing of her baby.” Along with this, the stress of the pandemic has affected the mental health of pregnant women and new mothers -- causing excess worry, fear of contracting the virus, being isolated, having to go through the birthing process and the challenge of taking care of a newborn especially for first-time mothers without extended support, she says.