Facilitating Milk Donation in the Context of Perinatal Palliative Care

J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2018 Jul;47(4):564-570. doi: 10.1016/j.jogn.2017.11.002. Epub 2017 Nov 24.

Abstract

The option to donate milk within the context of perinatal palliative care allows pregnant women to be involved in medical decision making before birth. In this article we examine how a perinatal bereavement program engages women and families in the process of milk donation when the deaths of their newborns are anticipated. We include two case examples to offer insight into the complexities within the patient experience of milk donation after perinatal loss.

Keywords: bereavement; breastfeeding; human milk bank; medical decision making; milk donation; perinatal loss; perinatal palliative care; pregnant women.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bereavement*
  • Breast Feeding / psychology*
  • Decision Making
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Milk, Human*
  • Mothers / psychology*
  • Palliative Care / psychology*
  • Perinatal Care / methods
  • Professional-Family Relations
  • Tissue Donors / psychology*
  • Tissue and Organ Procurement / methods