Psychological Impact of the Announcement of a Fetal Abnormality on Pregnant Women and on Professionals

Abstract

The psychological impact of the announcement of a fetal abnormality after ultrasound examinations is examined in relation to the building up of the mother-child attachment. It represents the "psychological cost" of such techniques. Understanding the subjective experience of the patients could increase the effectiveness of clinical practice. We have assumed that the relationship between parents and professionals is a critical element that contributes to the establishment of an emotional link between the mother and her child. Pregnant women, mothers, and professionals were approached for interviews and by questionnaires including anamnestic data, opinions, and projective methods. The results showed that the women with fetopathy were less centered on themselves during the pregnancy. Long-term effects were found to be important. In pregnant women, ultrasound examination was experienced with satisfaction even if some ambivalence remained. In mothers with an impaired child, ultrasound examination was viewed as a technique with low reliability. Professionals reported not having preparation in making such an announcement. We concluded that a need exists for better management of the modalities of ultrasound examinations. Many parents have expressed their need for psychological support.

Seeing baby: women's experience of prenatal ultrasound examination and unexpected fetal diagnosis

“…These researchers recommend further research into the area of bad news transmission using other research designs. Detraux et al 21 tabulated retrospective quantitative data from prenatal US diagnosis of fetal abnormality using a developmental psychology perspective. Rempel et al 22 explored the pregnancy decision-making processes of parents following an antenatal diagnosis of fetal congenital heart disease using a qualitative design, describing parents' postdiagnosis relationship and interaction patterns with health care professionals.…”

Anxiety Level Among Patients Undergoing Ultrasound Examination in Ghana

“…Thus the patients were though anxious it did not affect their satisfaction. This could be related to the fact that most patient from the study indicated that they would not hesitate if asked to undergo the procedure again in contradiction with the study by Detraux et al [10]. The patients' satisfaction could be, the healthcare personnel, related to them in a friendly manner and also they found the imaging room to be comfortable.…”

“…5) in support of Detraux et al, [10] and Christaine et al, [11] who stated that major reasons why women are anxious during and after an ultrasound examination is because of the fear of the outcome of the examination. Distressor anxiety is not determined by the invasiveness or pain of the procedure as argued by Kowaleek et al [12] which supports the findings of this study.…”

“…Most of the patients were not anxious about the pain or discomfort they may go through but rather, are primarily concerned about their problems and outcomes (Christaine et al,) [11]. These findings contradicts a previous work by Detraux et al, [10] whose study found that transvaginal ultrasound cause and trigger anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptoms among these patients.…”

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“…Many studies have shown that the detection of an anomaly creates emotional disturbance for the mother and her partner. Various feelings such as anxiety, prostration, depression, and loneliness are generally found in such mothers 20 . In a group of 11 mothers who had a child with cardiopathy diagnosed before birth, Detraux et al 20 found that ultrasound examination appeared at first as a method to visualize the future child, and confront the anxiety-producing reality of fetal cardiopathy.…”