Walk with Me: A Bridge Program for Assisting Families Expecting Babies with Fetal Anomalies and/or a Terminal Diagnosis.

ABSTRACT

When an expectant mother hears the news that her infant has a fetal anomaly, she may feel unsure of the future. A RN recognized the needs of women (and their families) expecting infants with critical fetal diagnoses and reached out to help them through their journey-through the pregnancy, delivery, and beyond. The act of walking alongside the mothers through their experience has grown into a formal program at a specialized children's and womens' hospital in the southeastern United States. This article describes the purpose of the program, how the program came into existence, and what services the program provides to this special population. The program continues to evolve, and the team members have worked with over 169 mothers to date.