A perinatal hospice for an unborn child with a life-limiting condition

Int J Palliat Nurs. 2005 Jun;11(6):274-6. doi: 10.12968/ijpn.2005.11.6.18294.

Abstract

Perinatal hospice is a newly developing model of hospice care, offered to the family in the prenatal period, which provides support, guidance and comfort to families who make the difficult choice to continue a pregnancy after the diagnosis of a fatal fetal anomaly. The model is based on the hospice philosophy of living life fully and enjoying each moment. This article describes a perinatal hospice programme that is currently in place at a hospice home care programme of a children's hospital in the USA. It includes a case example of one family's experience of this programme.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Therapeutic
  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Attitude to Death
  • Attitude to Health
  • Congenital Abnormalities / diagnosis
  • Congenital Abnormalities / nursing*
  • Female
  • Grief
  • Hospice Care / organization & administration*
  • Hospitals, Pediatric
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Medical Futility / psychology*
  • Minnesota
  • Models, Nursing
  • Models, Organizational
  • Neonatal Nursing / organization & administration*
  • Parents / education
  • Parents / psychology*
  • Patient Care Planning
  • Perinatal Care / organization & administration*
  • Philosophy, Nursing
  • Prenatal Diagnosis
  • Referral and Consultation
  • Social Work / organization & administration