OP09.12: The effects of two‐dimensional ultrasound alone versus two‐ plus three‐/four‐dimensional ultrasound on maternal anxiety and breast feeding: a randomized study

Abstract

To test the hypothesis that the use of 3D/4DUS plus 2DUS can reduce anxiety to a greater extent and improve breastfeeding rate in women at risk of having a fetus with congenital abnormalities than the use of 2DUS alone. A total of 124 women attending the prenatal diagnostic clinic of a teaching hospital were randomized into the intervention (2DUS followed by 3D/4DUS) or control (2DUS alone) group. One operator performed all the ultrasound examinations. The primary outcome was maternal anxiety levels which were assessed by the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The secondary outcome was breastfeeding rate. We measured the anxiety levels in all women at the first visit, around 18 weeks' (immediately after ultrasound examinations) and finally at 28 weeks' gestation. A short-term reduction of state- anxiety score (by around two) from the first visit to after ultrasound examinations was similarly observed in both the intervention group and control group. Repeated measures ANOVA showed that there was no significant interaction effect between groups and time of assessment on the state-anxiety scores (F value = 1.072 and P value = 0.344). There was also no significant difference in the breastfeeding rate on discharge from the hospital after delivery between the control group (33.3%) and the intervention group (43.6%). About 80% of women reported a better understanding that their baby was normal after viewing 3D than 2D images. This randomized study indicates that the addition of 3D/4DUS does not cause a significant reduction on maternal anxiety or increase in breastfeeding rate in pregnancies at risk of fetal abnormalities compared with conventional 2DUS alone.