**5. Conclusions**

This study provides a snapshot into the experiences of new mothers and their families during a pandemic, a time that was both a blessing and a curse for them. Their experiences reveal that following public health orders was neither a fully negative nor fully positive time for new families. It was a time during which complex contradictions constructed by competing social discourses created difficult dichotomies. The participants discussed the joy of family bonding and how they felt relief from the pressures of daily activities. Yet, participants also described the loss of these cherished moments and special experiences including lost opportunities to share their baby with friends and family. They also described unfulfilled expectations and hopes in terms of sharing important milestones in person versus via video chats. As part of compassionate health care practice, we should acknowledge the significance of these joys and losses to new parents. These moments of complexity need to be

recognized, valued, validated, listened to, and accepted as families continue to navigate the changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, M.A. and S.P.; methodology, M.A. and S.P.; formal analysis, all authors.; writing, P.J.; writing—review and editing, all authors; supervision, M.A. and S.P.; project administration, M.A. and S.P. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** This research received funding from the Dalhousie University Nursing Research Fund.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.
