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.