ABSTRACT Objective: To understand the challenges faced by urban midwives in assisting planned home births during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Qualitative study, based on the Collective Subject Discourse methodological framework, carried out with eight professionals, members of a birth care collective from the northeast region of Brazil. Data was collected between September and October of 2020 using the focus group technique. Results: The collective discourses revealed five central ideas: Changing assistance strategy; Dealing with frustration; Facing the fear of contamination; Avoiding exposure to the virus; and Keeping distance during the care process. Final considerations: The challenging condition the pandemic brings to the care of planned home births is made evident, being marked by the need for collective protection and the pressure of following health recommendations. The study also points out the need for official protocols and good quality information based on scientific evidence and humanizing principles to guide health care.