Perinatal Hospice

A rational approach to a devastating problem

 

The expectant couple is giddy with anticipation.  The long-awaited day of their first sonogram has finally arrived.  Family and friends are eagerly awaiting those black and white images of that little baby – the promise of things to come.

 

The doctor is all smiles as he begins the ultrasound examination.  His brow becomes furrowed.  The happy occasion has suddenly turned solemn.  “Your baby has an abnormality, it won’t live…you should consider termination”.  

 

Their world has collapsed.  The giddiness is replaced with profound shock and disbelief.  Questions flood their mind.  Is it due to something they’ve done or didn’t do?  Is it genetic?  Will future children be ok?  Do we have to terminate?  Will it hurt me to carry this baby?  Is the baby in pain?

 

Unfortunately, this scenario plays itself out 10,000-15,000 times each year in the United States to mothers and families with in-utero diagnosis of a lethal anomaly.  These include chromosomal abnormalities such as Trisomy 9, 13 and 18, anencephaly, etc.  Many of these mothers and families receive very little support other than a recommendation to terminate.  They may even face abandonment by their physician if they choose to ignore that recommendation.  What will they do?

 

Enter Perinatal Hospice.  This concept was introduced by Byron C. Calhoun, MD, a specialist in Maternal-Fetal medicine and introduced into private practice by Scott Stringfield, MD of Choices Medical Clinic in Wichita, Kansas.  

 

Prinatal Hospice allows for a continuum of supportive care, for mother and baby, from the time of lethal fetal diagnosis until the natural death of the child.  Follow-up care and counseling is also provided.

 

Rather than abort a baby that will supposedly die of an abnormality, the thought behind Perinatal Hospice is, if your baby is going to die anyway, why kill it?  Why not do all you can for your baby and allow God to take that little life when He deems appropriate.

 

Rather than subject yourself to the possible physical complications of abortion and the lifelong emotional consequences of tacitly participating in the termination of your pregnancy, you will take comfort knowing you gave your little one every chance you could.

 

Astonishingly, approximately 2/3 of the in-utero conditions considered worthy of termination are less severe than thought or are surgically correctible.