Advances in fetal diagnostics have resulted in families facing a pregnancy complicated by a fetal health concern. Perinatal literature supports that these families benefit from extensive counseling and education presented by a multidisciplinary team. In the program described in this article, perinatal palliative care planning is offered to families who have been told that their fetus has a potentially lethal prognosis. Called the “Fetal Concerns Program,” it was developed to address the complex needs of families whose fetus has anomalies. This article reviews perinatal palliative care concepts and describes the Fetal Concerns Program's development as a perinatal palliative care service within a broader program. The special role of the nurse coordinator of the Fetal Concerns Program is highlighted.

Background: Families with a prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 13 or 18 are told many things, some true and some myths. They present with differing choices on how to proceed that may or may not be completely informed. Purpose: To provide the prenatal counselor with a review of the pertinent obstetrical and neonatal outcome data and ethical discussion to help them in supporting families with the correct information for counseling. Methods/Search Strategy: This article provides a review of the literature on facts and myths and provides reasonable outcome data to help families in decision making. Findings/Results: These disorders comprise a heterogeneous group regarding presentation, outcomes, and parental goals. The authors maintain that there needs to be balanced decision-making between parents and providers for the appropriate care for the woman and her infant. Implications for Practice: Awareness of this literature can help ensure that prenatal and palliative care consultation incorporates the appropriate facts and parental values and in the end supports differing choices that can support the infant's interests.