A perinatal hospice for an unborn child with a life-limiting condition.
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.
Ramer-Chrastek
Joan
J
Hospice and Palliative Care Services, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, 2525 Chicago Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404, USA. jody.chrastek@childrenshc.org
Thygeson
Megan V
MV
D000032:Abortion, Therapeutic; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001294:Attitude to Health; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018447:Medical Futility / Q000523:psychology*; D008910:Minnesota; D016294:Models, Nursing; D017146:Models, Organizational; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration