Impact of fetal testing on maternal anxiety

Abstract

We evaluated the impact of fetal testing on maternal anxiety. A consecutive series of high-risk women attending during the third trimester for fetal assessment were each randomly assigned to one of four conditions: (1) high-feedback ultrasonography (n = 11), in which the monitor screen was visible; (2) low-feedback ultrasonography (n = 8), in which specific visual and verbal feedback was denied; (3) fetal heart rate monitoring (n = 11); or (4) a video control (n = 7), in which the women viewed a videotape of an ultrasonographic recording. Assessments were conducted before and after each procedure. No change was found in attitude ratings towards the fetus, although there was a significant reduction in state anxiety from before to after, with the reduction most pronounced in women undergoing high-feedback ultrasonography.