The Meaning of Food and Multicultural Implications for Perinatal Palliative Care

Feeding an infant is a bonding experience for parents, particularly for women from cultures in which breastfeeding is the norm. When an infant is unexpectedly ill, or his or her life is expected to be brief, challenges surrounding infant feeding can occur. Regardless of ethnicity or culture, parents facing the death of their infant have difficult decisions to make and need time to process those decisions. Given the social, cultural and spiritual nature of food and water, withdrawing or withholding nutrition and/or hydration for infants can be one of the most difficult decisions for parents. This article considers the clinical and cultural ramifications of infant feeding decisions when a shift occurs from curative interventions to palliative care.