Psychological effects of fetal diagnoses of non-lethal congenital anomalies on the experience of pregnant women during the remainder of their pregnancy.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of prenatal fetal diagnoses of non-lethal anomalies on the psychological well-being of pregnant women throughout their pregnancy. Fifty-five pregnant women were asked to complete a questionnaire (the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) to assess their anxiety levels at multiple follow-up visits. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 pregnant women after completion of the questionnaire. We identified three stages of psychological distress. The intense negative psychological reaction stage was characterized by an intense psychological distress in response to the loss of an ideal child. The psychological healing stage was characterized by the emergence of coping mechanisms and a concomitant decrease in psychological distress. Finally, the intense negative psychological reaction re-emergence stage was characterized by an increase in psychological distress related to uncertainty regarding the future of the baby. Following a prenatal diagnosis of a non-lethal anomaly, both the nature and the intensity of the psychological distress experienced by pregnant women change throughout the remainder of their pregnancy. Throughout the remainder of their pregnancy, these women should be offered effective psychological support that accounts for each of the distinct psychological response stages identified in this study.