Care for the dying mother-to-be

Abstract

The childbearing woman who has a life-threatening illness encounters conflicting responses within herself and in others. While pregnancy engenders pleasurable optimism in our pronatalist society, life-threatening conditions can induce pessimistic horror. The significance of this may be judged from the incidence of cancer in pregnancy (one in 1,000-1,500 live births). There are many complex issues arising out of this situation - both for those personally affected and for formal carers. These issues cause the childbearing woman, and those near to her, to face many difficult decisions. The palliative care approach includes non-hierarchical care and suggests that decisions should be taken jointly with the woman and, possibly, those close to her.