A qualitative study of mothers’ and fathers’ experiences of routine ultrasound examination in Sweden

Abstract

Objective: to conceptualise mothers' and fathers' thoughts and feelings before, during and after the routine ultrasound examination during the second trimester of pregnancy.Design, setting and participants: a grounded theory study. Two to four weeks after their ultrasound examination 22 Swedish mothers and 22 fathers were interviewed in their homes.

Routine ultrasound examination during pregnancy: a world of possibilities

“…The women expected their partners to participate during the scan and to share the experience with them. Watching the ultrasound screen enhances the feeling of involvement for the father (Draper, 2002;Ekelin et al, 2004;Locock, 2006). We suggest that this feeling of being involved can be seen as a kind of paternal-fetal attachment as described by Ferketich & Mercer (1995).…”

“…One of the most common expectations of an ultrasound scan is to find out whether the baby is healthy (Eurenius et al, 1997;Stephens et al, 2000;Larsen et al, 2001;Ekelin et al, 2004;Lalor & Begley, 2006;Gudex et al, 2006), suggesting that women perceive it to be the baby that is being tested. The women in this study acknowledged the scan as a test of their baby, which suggests that the test offered possibilities in itself.…”

“…Dykes and Stjernqvist (2001) have shown the impact of ultrasound on women´s thoughts about their unborn child and how it increased their awareness of them carrying a child. Ekelin et al (2004) describe the importance of the examination for parents-to-be as confirmation of a new life.…”

Fathers' Lived Experiences of Getting to Know Their Baby While Acting as Primary Caregivers Immediately Following Birth

“…To meet this demand, the content of antenatal care and childbirth education has been changing over time from merely focusing on women's perspectives to also involving the view of the partner (Premberg & Lundgren, 2006). Today, fathers are encouraged to participate in antenatal care, including the ultrasound examination, because this examination is described as being part of the process of becoming a parent (Ekelin, Crang-Svalenius, & Dykes, 2004). Despite fathers' extended involvement in antenatal care, both parents report that fathers are often given a secondary role during childbirth education and antenatal care (Hildingsson & Rådestad, 2005;Premberg & Lundgren, 2006).…”

Prenatal Examinations for Down Syndrome and Possible Effects on Maternal-Fetal Attachment

“…This examination is accepted of the vast majority (SBU 1998). To many expecting parents the ultrasound examination has such a strong confirming effect that they wait until after the examination before they tell family and friends about the pregnancy (Ekelin, 2004). The possibility to see the fetus on the ultrasound screen has shift the focus from the time point when the pregnant woman felt the movements of the baby by herself to the time point when you can see the fetus on the screen.…”