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Perinatal palliative care

Perinatal palliative care


Perinatal palliative care

Perinatal palliative care is the multidisciplinary provision of comprehensive physical, psychological, social and spiritual care for a baby and family following the diagnosis of a life-limiting condition during pregnancy or shortly after birth. It extends from diagnosis and through to bereavement care following the death of a baby. Perinatal palliative care provides families with opportunities to provide the highest standard of care and its principles should apply whether parents choose to continue a pregnancy or opt for a termination of pregnancy.

Our research in this area

Key publications

Category Category Keywords Year Title Abstract Actions

Journal Article

Journal Article Fatal fetal anomaly, Perinatal palliative care, Termination of pregnancy for fetal anomalies 2023

Fatal fetal anomaly: Exploring experiences of women and their partners

Parents with a diagnosis of fatal fetal anomaly need consistent, well communicated, and comprehensive care, which encourages an individualised perinatal palliative care approach to meet parental needs. More details Read publication

Book chapter

Book chapter Bereavement care, Fatal fetal anomaly, Perinatal palliative care, Termination of pregnancy for fetal anomalies 2022

Birth when life is short

Birth When Life is Short – a short summary of the positive trajectory of the development of bereavement care in pregnancy loss in Ireland. More details Read publication

Book chapter

Book chapter Bereavement care, Perinatal palliative care 2021

Perinatal palliative care

Perinatal Palliative Care provides for optimal holistic care of a baby and family following a life-limiting diagnosis. Models of planning & care are provided to provide optimum comfort for the baby, mother & family. More details Read publication

Journal Article

Journal Article Fatal fetal anomaly, Perinatal palliative care 2019

A retrospective review of the Perinatal Palliative Care (PPC) Programme at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH)

Audit of implementation of the National Standards for Bereavement Care following Pregnancy Loss and Perinatal Death at a tertiary maternity hospital finds overall high level of implementation, with areas for improvement noted, such as documentation and staff education programmes. More details Read publication

Journal Article

Journal Article Bereavement care, Experience, Fatal fetal anomaly 2019

Anencephaly; the maternal experience of continuing with the pregnancy. Incompatible with life but not with love

Anencephaly, a fatal fetal anomaly in pregnancy, is devastating for parents and termination is often considered best management. Continuing the pregnancy before saying goodbye may be a healing and positive alternative to early termination for some women. More details Read publication

Our people

Pregnancy Loss Research Group

Pregnancy Loss Research Group, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University College Cork, Fifth Floor, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Wilton, Cork, T12 YE02, Ireland,

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