Our Mission
Our Mindset
Catastrophes tend to have a lasting effect on the people living through them, be it first, second, or third hand. While their nature and length may differ, catastrophes may lead to temporary policies that could be applied during other events. Pregnant women living through the pandemic of COVID-19 have experienced new (or changing) policies and guidelines that have had different effects on their mental and physical health during their pregnancies. In surveying their experiences, we may be able to help policymakers of the future who face a different catastrophe develop guidelines adapted to the circumstances but also protective of the welfare of women during their pregnancy.
Objectives
Determine
Pandemic-specific public health guidelines (restrictions, social distancing, school and commerce closures, travel
restrictions, quarantines, distance learning, telework) and hospital policies (in person or online visits, companion
presence) may have affected pregnant women’s mental and physical health during their pregnancy. The questionnaire
developed for the CONCEPTION Study is a tool to measure the added stress and other effects experienced.
Compare
Our study having started in summer 2020, we have gathered experiences in multiple waves and phases of the COVID-19
pandemic. The collaboration of our participants, therefore, is paramount in allowing us to compare the stress and
burden experienced by pregnant women in different moments of the pandemic. Moreover, we can compare the added
burden lived during the pandemic to that experienced when there was no pandemic through other measures at our
disposal.
Inform
Catastrophes may occur at any time, and while another pandemic may not happen again, guidelines similar to those put
in place in during the COVID-19 pandemic may be needed again. To limit the burden on the health of pregnant women
and their future child in future catastrophes, the findings the CONCEPTION Study will be able to provide policymakers
with enough knowledge to decide on guidelines and policies that are mindful of the welfare of women during their
pregnancy.