A Gift of Time

Book excerpt: Now updated and expanded—a gentle and comprehensive guide for parents expecting a baby with a prenatal diagnosis of a life-limiting condition. When prenatal testing reveals that a baby is expected to die before or shortly after birth, many parents choose to proceed with the pregnancy and embrace the time they are able to have with their baby, before birth as well as afterward. With compassion and support, A Gift of Time walks these parents step-by-step through this challenging and emotional experience—from receiving the diagnosis to coping with the pregnancy and making plans for the baby's birth and peaceful death. The second edition of this gentle guide offers inspiration and reassurance through the voices of numerous parents who have walked this path with their beloved baby. Their moving experiences are stories not only of grief but of joy and peace. This edition: • Expands the content substantially to incorporate new research and guidelines • Features additional vignettes from more than 160 parents about their experiences and coping strategies • Offers encouragement and more practical ideas for moving forward, including updated guidance for decision-making and ideas for embracing the time with the baby, from before birth to after death • Describes the importance of perinatal hospice and palliative care, which has continued to grow worldwide since the first edition was published, and how to access this care Drawing from parent experiences and published research, this new edition is full of practical suggestions for parents as well as health care professionals. Caring and thoughtful, A Gift of Time helps parents navigate this difficult news and the journey that follows.