Expecting the Unexpected: Perspectives on Stillbirth and Late Termination of Pregnancy for Fetal Anomalies.

Abstract

Expectant mothers and their spouses spend months preparing to eagerly welcome their much-anticipated baby into their family. Stillbirth or a diagnosis of life-limiting fetal anomalies comes as a devastating turn of events for affected women and their families. From the time of diagnosis to intervention (i.e., induction of labor for stillbirth or late termination of pregnancy for fetal anomalies), affected women often feel vulnerable and abandoned, with many experiencing long-term psychological and emotional effects. Knowledge of obstetric management, ethical and medical challenges, and psychological aspects have evolved in recent years. Familiarity with this emerging knowledge better prepares the obstetric anesthesiologist to deliver effective and empathic care. Encounters with women experiencing stillbirth and life-limiting fetal anomalies prompted this review of current evidence regarding parturient' perspectives on their care as they set out on the road to recovery.