Webinar: Tuesday 22 October 1200–1300
Online, with free registration in advance
In this NCMD webinar perinatal midwife Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice Sara Balmforth, Milk Bank at Chester Operational Manager Laura Atherton and Mum Rowen Emmett O’Toole will discuss how lactation choices fit into shared decision-making for expectant families with a life-limiting foetal diagnosis, and what professionals can do to best support.
As diagnostic technology and foetal medicine advance, the prevalence of life-limiting foetal diagnoses made antenatally increases. Families find themselves in a position where they may experience anticipatory grief and could face difficulties in navigating the weeks or months parallel planning while trying to make meaningful memories for the remainder of their pregnancy, during birth and during the life of their child.
These families require support in decision-making; and here anticipatory care planning is considered best practice. A palliative care birth plan should offer families a sense of control, allowing them to discuss their wishes, whilst being compassionately supported to make informed choices.
There is therefore a UK-wide need for healthcare professionals to advocate shared decision making for all choices available to families including lactation management. This webinar will explore how this can be approached, and will cover:
- The Memory Milk Gift initiative
- Engaging with Health care professionals
- The pathway for offering lactation choices
- Resources available
- Sensitivities and cultural considerations when discussing lactation management
- Importance of informed and shared decision making with a person-centred approach
The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session, and you can also submit questions in advance by emailing NCMD-programme@bristol.ac.uk.
The session is free and open to all with free registration in advance. Please note that the session will be recorded and shared by NCMD to support future learning.