title: Parents' Experiences With Ultrasound During Pregnancy With a Lethal Fetal Diagnosis.
abstract: This longitudinal naturalistic study sought to describe parent experiences of ultrasounds during pregnancies with lethal fetal diagnoses (LFDs). We interviewed 16 mothers and 14 partners twice during pregnancy and twice after birth and death of their infant. Parents reported that ultrasound providers had a profound impact on their experiences with LFDs. Within three stages of pregnancy (pre-diagnosis, learning the diagnosis, and living with the diagnosis), themes ofoptimistic expectation, hearing bad news, need to know, andtime with babyemerged. The dynamics of interactions with ultrasound providers includeddiffering goals and expectations, andcompatibility of interactions. These interactions were either satisfying or added to parents' burden. Ultrasound providers have the opportunity to share valuable knowledge and facilitate understanding and precious time with the baby. Providers of obstetrical care can improve communication with parents with LFDs at critical time periods by matching their interaction to parents' needs.
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Erin M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Denney-Koelsch
authors.affiliation: The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Côté-Arsenault
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lemcke-Berno
keywords: communication; experiences; high-risk; illness and disease; life-threatening; medical; naturalistic inquiry; pregnancy; terminal