title: Viewing the unborn child - pregnant women's expectations, attitudes and experiences regarding fetal ultrasound examination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To gain a deeper understanding of pregnant women's expectations, attitudes and experiences regarding ultrasound examination during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-depth interviews were conducted with eight pregnant Norwegian women prior to their 18-week scan. The data were analyzed through systematic text condensation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis generated three main themes: (1) I want to know if everything is fine, (2) Viewing the unborn child, (3) Holistic care. The women had a strong wish for ultrasound scanning and medical knowledge about their "baby" was their first priority interest. Visualizing the "baby" represented a strong emotional dimension for the parents-to-be and initiated the bonding process and the planning of a new life. The women wanted to be empowered and approached in a holistic way, where dialogic communication was needed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The women wanted medical knowledge about the fetal health. They considered the examination a visual experience together with their partner. The scan provided a personification of and an attachment to the fetus. This experience was the first step in the planning of a new life. The women had ambivalent feelings related to the ultrasound examination and they highlighted the importance of holistic care, where the sharing of information happens on an individual basis.
authors.affiliation: Post Graduate Programme on Obstetric Ultrasound for Midwives, St. Olavs University Hospital, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Olav Kyrres gate 17, 7006 Trondheim, Norway. Electronic address: liv.oyen@ntnu.no.
authors.forename: Liv
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Øyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, Midwifery Education, Faculty of Health and Social Science, Sør-Trøndelag University College, Mauritz Hansens gate 2, 7004 Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Ingvild
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aune
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009664:Norway; D009769:Object Attachment; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D037841:Pregnant People; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Expectation; Experience; Prenatal care; Ultrasound; Women's view