Women's experiences when ultrasound examinations give unexpected findings in the second trimester

Abstract

Background: In Norway pregnant women who are not regarded to be in a risk group are offered one routine ultrasound around the 18(th) week of pregnancy. If serious abnormalities are diagnosed, the women may apply for a termination.

Research question: The aim of this study was to describe and understand some pregnant women's thoughts, feelings and dilemmas of choice when unexpected findings were diagnosed after a routine ultrasound examination.

Methods: This study was based on 22 semi-structured life world interviews. The women interviewed were informed of unexpected findings after undergoing routine ultrasound examinations around the 18(th) week of pregnancy. The analysis of the data was inspired by phenomenological research and followed the meaning condensation approach described by Kvale (1).

Results: The informants' experiences are presented by showing how they described shifts between juxtaposed emotional states: hope-acceptance, distancing-denial and grief-guilt. All of the informants described these swings between different emotions as a state of continuous chaos.

Discussion: The discovery of abnormality in a wanted child at a late stage of pregnancy can evoke an emotional crisis for women. All the informants in this study described swings between different emotions as being in a state of continuous chaos. The women had to make difficult choices regarding their own future and that of their child.

Conclusion: Eliminating the anxiety and anguish experienced by women following a diagnosis of fetal abnormality is impossible. It must be possible, however, to mitigate their distress. Further research should develop methods to prepare women for coping in crises like these.