Maternal response to anomalies detected by antenatal ultrasonography

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effect of an atypical antenatal scan on the expectant mother.

Design: Postnatal postal questionnaire.

Setting: Questionnaires completed at home after the infants had been investigated at a regional paediatric surgical unit.

Subjects: Twenty-nine mothers.

Results: The mothers had a very positive attitude to antenatal ultrasonography. The information that the scan was atypical resulted in a high level of parental anxiety which sometimes persisted into the postnatal period.

Conclusion: A multidisciplinary approach is required for the management of the expectant mother who has an atypical scan.