He comments that around only 20% of babies such as these are born, but with care, "families are given the gift of time to truly cherish the life of the child and allow him or her to be a part of their family, even if it is for a short time".
He also says that "These parents are often pressured to make the decision quickly in light of the complications surrounding late term abortions. Yet the statistics show that parents who choose abortion because of a prenatal diagnosis have great regret. The intensity of their grief is so great that it can cause psychological harm. This doesn’t have to be the case; perinatal hospice is a nurturing option for both the child and the family. When given the option, eighty percent of these parents choose perinatal. These programs support the family emotionally and give them the tools to say good bye to their baby".
'Defiant Birth' by Melinda Tankard-Reist, is a compilation of beautiful accounts from numerous families and couples who defied (often intense) medical pressure to abort. These families instead chose to take the important opportunity to hold their precious babies and to grieve their sickness, disability or loss. While heartwrenching, these stories demonstrate the crucial need for excellent perinatal hospice as a positive option for families. Parents, families and babies deserve the best of care and support.
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