COCOON: Continuing care in COVID-19 outbreak: A global survey of bereaved parent experiences

COCOON is a global research study currently being coordinated by The Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence.

This international collaborative study involves participants from 14 countries including Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, and USA and it aims to explore the experiences of pregnant and postpartum women, and their partners accessing maternity and postnatal care during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The aim of the study is also to understand the experiences and main concerns of bereaved parents who have experienced a stillbirth or neonatal death during the COVID-19 outbreak, and of pregnant women who had a prior stillbirth or neonatal death (e.g. care received, what support services were available- both formal and informal, and impact of public health limitations on funeral arrangements, visitors to hospital, etc.)

The results of this study are expected to inform strategies to improve not only pregnancy and postpartum care but also the bereavement care for women, their partners, and their families during this or any future similar outbreak(s).