Objective: We examined pregnant women’s expectations concerning their unborn babies prior to prenatal diagnosis and also the possible correlations with emotional characteristics such as anxiety and depression. Methods: The consecutive sampling consisted of 324 pregnant women presenting themselves between the 11th and 29th weeks of pregnancy for detection of foetal anomalies. The pregnant women noted their thoughts and expectations concerning their unborn using a choice of 18 adjectives in a 5-point Likert scale in a standardized questionnaire. Anxiety was recorded with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and depression with a depression scale. Results: By means of factor analysis (analysis of the main components by varimax rotation), it was possible to determine 4 factors (inherent value criterion >1) from the 18 items (adjectives). Those 4 factors indicate a total of 58.3% of the variance. The first factor scale, well-being, is characterized by 4 items, ‘happy’, ‘glad’, ‘carefree’ and ‘light-hearted’. The second factor scale, nervous, is identified mainly by the items ‘fidgety’, ‘excitable’, ‘restless’ and ‘excited’. The third factor scale, passive, is marked by the items ‘anxious’, ‘disheartened’ and ‘sleepy’. The fourth factor scale, vulnerable, is indicated by 3 items, ‘in need of protection’, ‘vulnerable’ and ‘clinging’. Scales 1, 2 and 3 gave evidence of significant correlations with trait intensity in the state and trait anxiety scale and in the scale for the assessment of depressive mood prior to prenatal diagnosis and state anxiety after prenatal diagnosis. Conclusion: The individual characteristics and attributes of the unborn child are differentiated prior to prenatal diagnosis. There is most certainly a link between the well-being of the pregnant woman and the effect it has on the emotional characteristics of her unborn child.

Keywords:
Foetus, Prenatal diagnosis, Pregnancy, Psychology, Concept of the unborn, Depression, Anxiety
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel
2008
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.