Parenting Support Intervention During Pregnancy With a Life-Limiting Fetal Condition: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Perinatal mental health
• Palliative care interventions
• Family-centered care

Background:

• Current standard care for parents with life-limiting fetal conditions (LLFC) in the US emphasizes medical decision-making and accessible perinatal palliative care (PPC), but lacks interventions for daily lived experiences.
• A novel, relationship-centered intervention, the Developmental Perinatal Parenting Intervention with Life-limiting Fetal Conditions (DPPI-LLFC), was developed based on established theoretical frameworks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and acceptability of the DPPI-LLFC intervention for parents, interventionists, and the research team.
• To evaluate parents' experiences with the intervention's components and their completion of study measures.

Main Methods:

• A single-arm pilot study utilized telehealth delivery for the DPPI-LLFC.
• Three nurse interventionists (RN-Is) were trained in the intervention's theoretical underpinnings.
• Participants included mothers continuing LLFC pregnancies and their co-parents, receiving monthly intervention sessions throughout pregnancy and two post-birth.

Main Results:

• High retention (92%) was observed among 13 participating parents (8 mothers, 5 fathers).
• Telehealth delivery was feasible and acceptable, with 100% inter-rater agreement on fidelity assessments, confirming all intervention components were delivered as designed.
• Participants reported decreased pregnancy anxiety, low-to-moderate decision regret and grief intensity by study's end, and found the intervention "meaningful and appreciated."

Conclusions:

• The telehealth-delivered DPPI-LLFC is a feasible, acceptable, and valued intervention for parents experiencing LLFC pregnancies.
• This novel approach shows significant potential for improving access to and delivery of perinatal palliative care.