Neonatal palliative care is an approach towards care which embraces the wishes of parents, alongside the expertise of healthcare professionals, to enhance the quality of life of the baby, however long the family may have together.
Palliative care embraces many aspects of care such as physical (making sure your baby is comfortable at all times), emotional (making sure you are your family are supported), social (advice around practical challenges such as hospital car parking, housing advice) and spiritual (access to resources to support all faiths and beliefs) needs.
Palliative care is not always, but can include, end-of-life care and can be delivered alongside treatment which aims to cure or treat a condition.
Neonatal palliative care can include end-of-life care for babies who sadly die. Parents and healthcare professionals work closely together to ensure that the baby is comfortable during the end-of-life phase, and that parents are fully supported before, during, and after the death of their baby.
