Meeting your baby after receiving a serious or life-limiting diagnosis can bring many emotions. You may feel excited, frightened, overwhelmed, or unsure what to expect. Many parents worry that they won't know what to do or how to care for their baby.
Depending on your baby's condition, you may have opportunities to hold, comfort, feed, and spend time together. Some babies may need immediate medical care, while others may be able to remain with their families after birth.
Whether your baby lives for minutes, hours, days, or longer, there is no right or wrong way to spend your time together. Your healthcare team can help you understand what is possible and support you in caring for your baby in ways that feel meaningful to you.
Spending Time Together
There are many ways to spend time with your baby after birth. Depending on your baby's condition and medical needs, you may have opportunities to:
Hold your baby skin-to-skin, when possible
Introduce your baby to family members and loved ones
Read stories, sing songs, or talk to your baby
Celebrate your baby's birth with prayers, blessings, or cultural traditions
Take photographs and videos
Spend quiet time together as a family
Some families want to plan these moments in advance, while others prefer to decide what feels right after their baby is born. Both approaches are okay.
Caring for Your Baby
Depending on your baby's condition, you may be able to:
Hold, touch, and comfort your baby
Feed your baby, when medically appropriate
Bathe, dress, or swaddle your baby
Participate in diaper changes and other daily care
Help create a calm and comforting environment
If your baby requires specialized medical care, ask your healthcare team how you can be involved. Even when certain activities are not possible, there may be other ways to provide comfort and participate in your baby's care.
Your healthcare team can help guide you through what is possible based on your baby's individual needs.
If Your Baby Lives Longer Than Expected
Sometimes babies live longer than their healthcare team initially anticipated. This may bring unexpected opportunities to spend time together, along with new questions, decisions, and emotions.
If your baby lives longer than expected, you may wish to talk with your healthcare team about:
Your baby's changing medical needs and available care options
Ways to keep your baby comfortable and respond to their needs
Whether care can be provided at home, in the hospital, or in another setting
Support from perinatal palliative care, pediatric hospice, or home nursing services, when appropriate
Equipment, medications, training, or other resources you may need to care for your baby
Who to contact if your baby's condition changes or you have questions
You may experience relief, joy, fear, exhaustion, uncertainty, or many emotions at once. Your needs and preferences may also change over time.
You do not need to navigate these decisions alone. Your healthcare team can help you understand your options and adjust your baby's care plan as their needs change.