Natasha Henner, MD
Neonatology, Pediatric and Perinatal Palliative Care
Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago/Northwestern Memorial Hospital
A Physician defines Perinatal Palliative Care; and how families get referred.
Neonatalogist and Perinatal Palliative Care MD Dr. Natasha Henner explains what perinatal palliative care is. It can start early in the fetal period or later in pregnancy. For some it is after the baby is born when it is really general pediatric palliative care. Families can be referred from the fetal program but families can also self-refer. There is a trend that more families are looking up options – trials – to intervene for the fetus diagnosed with a complex fatal condition.
1 / 15
A Physician defines Perinatal Palliative Care; and how families get referred.
Trisomy 13 and 18 as an example of some parents now asking, “What if we did try to push a little further?”
A life-limiting fetal diagnosis: Trisomy 18 as an example of supporting parents’ choices.
Perinatal palliative care: “Parents can hold that [uncertainty] space better than we clinicians do.”
“I don’t use the terminology of quality of life. It labels something that is very difficult to label.” A perinatal doctor on listening to what is in the parents’ heart and hearing where they are headed.
The uncertainty of fetal diagnosis is dramatic. We don’t box parents into a decision.
A life-limiting fetal diagnosis: Conversations about terminating the pregnancy; Palliative care as a bridge to maternal fetal medicine.
A life-limiting fetal diagnosis: Empowering but not burdening the parents as decision-makers.
Medical Uncertainty: What the data says vs. what is going to happen with this particular baby.
An MD on addressing a parent’s fear of making the wrong decision for their child.
An MD notes the pros and cons for parents of social media and special interest groups
A Perinatal MD: We don’t really know who these parents are and how they will respond later; nor do they.
Shared Decision-Making: When parents ask the doctor for a recommendation.
Potential pathways for unborn babies with a life-limiting fetal condition: a perinatal palliative care doctor describes