Perinatal hospice

When the prenatal diagnosis of a lethal fetal anomaly has been established, some patients choose to continue their pregnancy. Currently, there is a pa ucity of medical literature addressing the specific management of families in this unique circumstance. We propose a model of care that incorporates t he strengths of prenatal diagnosis, perinatal grief management, and hospice care to address the needs of these families. We discuss the identification of candidates for this form of care; the multidisciplinary team approach; and the aspects of antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum care. Finally, w e discuss some barriers that might need to be overcome when attempting to i mplement perinatal hospice care.