Perinatal Pallative Care

""Perinatal" refers to the period of time between the 28th week of pregnancy and 28 days after the birth of a child.  When a prenatal diagnosis of serious, perhaps fatal, illness is made and parents have decided to continue the pregnancy, palliative care, including hospice care, is needed.

A source of information on an early intervention program in the Children's Program at the San Diego Hospice is provided in The Textbook of Palliative Medicine, 2nd Ed., (Oxford Press, 2006), pp. 922-23.

This program has reported that such perinatal hospice services result in parents being more emmotionally and spiritually prepared for the death of their infant.

For other perinatal resources, click on the "Resources" button on this page.

See also "Perinatal Hospice," Newborn & Infant Nursing Reviews, Vol. 7, No. 4, Dec. 2007, 216-221.