Perinatal Hospice
Many birth defects are currently diagnosed in the antenatal period and birth defects now account for the majority of causes of death in the first year of life in the United States.
Prenatal diagnostic capabilities continue to rapidly expand, but unfortunately the ability to adequately treat many of the diagnosed conditions has not kept pace. Likewise, thinking regarding care for families of unborn babies that will die before birth or live only a short time after birth has also lagged.
The family experience with these pregnancies is analogous to that of families with a terminally ill child and their management is well served with a coherent end-of-life philosophy.
Perinatal hospice is a comprehensive structured approach for the care of these families.
Further Resources
Guiding Perspectives: Prayer, Sacred Scripture, Church Teachings and Natural Law provide more insight and guidance on this subject.