title: Emotional reactions in women in late pregnancy (24 weeks or longer) following the ultrasound diagnosis of a severe or lethal fetal malformation.
abstract: We studied the emotional reactions of 41 women in late pregnancy shortly after they had been informed of the diagnosis of 'severe or lethal fetal malformations' and 3 months after delivery. In addition, situational variables were explored as determinants of grieving. While grief did not diminish during the study period, psychological instability was less pronounced at 3 months after delivery. More grief reactions were evoked by self-reported easily versus self-reported not easily initiated pregnancy, gestational age between 24 and 34 weeks versus beyond 34 weeks, multiparity versus primiparity, and viewing versus not viewing the baby.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital, Dijkzigt, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hunfeld
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Wladimiroff
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Passchier
authors.forename: M U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Venema-Van Uden
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Frets
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Verhage
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal