Discovery of soft markers on fetal ultrasound: maternal implications

Objectiveto explore women's experiences of referral to tertiary care on the basis of uncertain ultrasound findings.Designa qualitative method using Rice and Ezzy's thematic analysis approach. Data were gathered through two in-depth interviews over a six to eight-month period.Participantsa total of 20 interviews were conducted among pregnant women, purposively recruited at a tertiary facility. Inclusion criteria were based on detection of an isolated soft marker in an otherwise normal pregnancy.Data analysisinterview data were transcribed and data were subjected to thematic analysis.Findingsmothers journeyed through a temporal sequence of adjustment following referral to specialist services. Four distinct phases were identified: realisation; making sense of events; anxious waiting; and having no clear resolution.Conclusiontrends of increasing prenatal surveillance together with advancing technology make this study timely and of global interest. Findings suggest that women identified as ‘at risk’ before being discharged uneventfully may be prone to attachment issues and a host of other difficulties. The complexities inherent in this experience should be of interest to a broad range of health professionals. An appreciation of this experience may assist midwives and other health professionals to provide more meaningful maternal support to women identified as ‘at risk’.