Nova Scotians United for Life do not have an official perinatal hospice group, however we are more than willing to walk the walk with you if you find yourself facing an adverse prenatal diagnosis and wish to carry your dear baby to birth.
What is Perinatal Hospice?
"Perinatal hospice is not so much a program as a frame of mind." (perinatalhospice.org)
It is a new approach to working with parents or single moms and their families who have received an adverse prenatal diagnosis regarding their baby.
Their goal is to support parents during the emotional turmoil that is part of pregnancy and birth of babies diagnosed with serious, if not necessarily always fatal, disorders. (1)
On hearing of the condition of their unborn, the parents who are in great distress from this news, may not realize that there is another choice other than abortion. (please note that the medical community may refer to this procedure as 'termination of a fetal anomaly', 'medical termination', 'interruption of pregnancy', 'early induction of labour', 'genetic termination.). (2)
Even if there is not a perinatal team in your hospital, you can let the medical staff know that termination is not a choice that you will make for your baby. You can choose then to surround yourself with your own support team -- family members, close friends, medical personnel who respect your choice, a member of the clergy, etc.
They can provide spiritual, emotional, medical and practical support.
Dr. Byron Calhoun, Madigan Army Medical Ctr., Tacoma Washington commented "Every parent in our program has thanked us for the time they had with their baby, no matter how short or long it was."(1)
Patty Lewis, Alexandra's House, Kansas City noted "If they abort the baby, the parents will always wonder whether the diagnosis was correct. But if the baby is born, they are able to hold the child...They know they did everything they could. They gave God a chance to heal the baby; gave every opportunity for a miracle."(1)
1 (National Right to Life news April 2001, Perinatal Hospice, by Liz Townsend)
2 (Morning Light Ministry)