Background: Pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic created profound uncertainty, emotional distress, and disruption in maternity care. Pregnant women infected with COVID-19 faced additional concerns regarding their own health, fetal well-being, and the continuity of support during a public health crisis. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of fear of loss among pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19 during the pandemic in Mashhad, Iran.

Methods: This descriptive phenomenological study was conducted with 14 pregnant women who had confirmed or clinically diagnosed COVID-19. Participants were selected purposively and interviewed through semi-structured, in-depth conversations until data saturation was achieved. Interviews were conducted in person or online, depending on participants’ conditions and preferences. Data were analyzed using van Manen’s phenomenological approach and managed with MAXQDA software.

Results: Three major themes emerged from the analysis: fear of infection and loss, burdened self-care amid insufficient support and poor treatment, and psychological disturbance. Women expressed intense fear of fetal loss, disease complications for the fetus, personal deterioration, uncertainty caused by conflicting information, and loss of loved ones. They also reported exhaustion in self-care, feelings of isolation, guilt, helplessness, dissatisfaction with healthcare support, and severe psychological strain, including stress, anxiety, depressive feelings, and mental exhaustion.

Conclusion: Pregnant women with COVID-19 experienced substantial emotional and psychological burden along with major challenges in self-care and access to support. Strengthening remote counselling, psychosocial support, and responsive maternity services may help reduce fear and improve coping during infectious disease crises.