Objectives Adverse social contexts, such as lockdowns and disasters during pregnancy, can significantly impact maternal and neonatal outcomes. However, the specific effects on different populations remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the variations in pregnancy outcomes resulting from the pandemic lockdown and to identify distinct populations in need of targeted intervention.Methods Women who delivered at our institution spanning from 2017 to 2019 (pre-pandemic) and from 2020 to 2022 (during the pandemic lockdown) were included in this study. A comparison was conducted on maternal and neonatal outcomes across a total of 19,382 singleton pregnancies, with a specific focus on those affected by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Results As a total of 19,382 singleton pregnant women were included, this study found a significant increase in the incidence rates of GDM with an odds ratio of 1.194 (95%CI: 1.109–1.286, p