Supporting Families from Diagnosis to Delivery: A Maternal Palliative Care Perspective

The incidence of cancer during pregnancy, although rare, has been on the rise in recent years. Considering this, there is a pressing need to explore a new specialised area of palliative care, maternal palliative care (MPC). MPC should focus on the mother’s physical and psychological well-being, as well as the foetal safety and development. This article discusses five cases of pregnant women who highlight the careful administration of oral morphine during pregnancy, spiritual distress, bereavement support, psychological support and the importance of fostering mother-child bonding. Palliative care physicians engaged in peripartum care should know maternal and foetal physiology, as well as pharmacological interactions, including those related to opioids affecting both mother and baby.