Natasha Henner, MD
Neonatology, Pediatric and Perinatal Palliative Care
Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago/Northwestern Memorial Hospital
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
