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A qualitative study of mothers' and fathers' experiences of routine ultrasound examination in Sweden.

Ekelin, Maria LU ; Crang Svalenius, Elizabeth LU and Dykes, Anna-Karin LU (2004) In Midwifery 20(4). p.335-344
Abstract
Objective:



to conceptualise mothers’ and fathers’ thoughts and feelings before, during and after the routine ultrasound examination during the second trimester of pregnancy.



Design, setting and participants:



a grounded theory study. Two to four weeks after their ultrasound examination, 22 Swedish mothers and 22 fathers were interviewed in their homes.



Findings:



the basic social process was confirmation of a new life. The four categories, visualising—the evident option, overwhelming to see life; becoming a family and reassuring, all represent a time span in the parents’ process towards confirmation of a new life. The caregivers’ way of assisting... (More)
Objective:



to conceptualise mothers’ and fathers’ thoughts and feelings before, during and after the routine ultrasound examination during the second trimester of pregnancy.



Design, setting and participants:



a grounded theory study. Two to four weeks after their ultrasound examination, 22 Swedish mothers and 22 fathers were interviewed in their homes.



Findings:



the basic social process was confirmation of a new life. The four categories, visualising—the evident option, overwhelming to see life; becoming a family and reassuring, all represent a time span in the parents’ process towards confirmation of a new life. The caregivers’ way of assisting and supporting the process by information and treatment was very important to parents.



Key conclusions and implications for practice:



as the ultrasound examination is perceived as a confirmation of a new life it is an extremely important milestone for both parents so the father should be encouraged to participate. It is an important and unique event for both women and men in their process towards becoming parents. This process was largely dependent on the treatment the parents had received during the examination and the information given. The findings of this study are of interest to midwives and others who perform ultrasound examinations as it explains why adequate time must be allowed for the examination and the importance of the information given before hand. When introducing new forms of fetal diagnosis in the future it should be kept in mind that this might irrevocably be accepted by parents who long for confirmation of a new life. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Ultra sound, Pregnancy, Mothers’ and fathers’ experiences, Confirmation
in
Midwifery
volume
20
issue
4
pages
335 - 344
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:15571882
  • wos:000225798200005
  • scopus:9644260507
ISSN
1532-3099
DOI
10.1016/j.midw.2004.02.001
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Division of Nursing (Closed 2012) (013065000)
id
3d134445-21ac-436b-a701-8e4277668f00 (old id 132229)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:53:08
date last changed
2022-03-20 20:22:48
@article{3d134445-21ac-436b-a701-8e4277668f00,
  abstract     = {{Objective:<br/><br>
<br/><br>
to conceptualise mothers’ and fathers’ thoughts and feelings before, during and after the routine ultrasound examination during the second trimester of pregnancy.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Design, setting and participants:<br/><br>
<br/><br>
a grounded theory study. Two to four weeks after their ultrasound examination, 22 Swedish mothers and 22 fathers were interviewed in their homes.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Findings:<br/><br>
<br/><br>
the basic social process was confirmation of a new life. The four categories, visualising—the evident option, overwhelming to see life; becoming a family and reassuring, all represent a time span in the parents’ process towards confirmation of a new life. The caregivers’ way of assisting and supporting the process by information and treatment was very important to parents.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Key conclusions and implications for practice:<br/><br>
<br/><br>
as the ultrasound examination is perceived as a confirmation of a new life it is an extremely important milestone for both parents so the father should be encouraged to participate. It is an important and unique event for both women and men in their process towards becoming parents. This process was largely dependent on the treatment the parents had received during the examination and the information given. The findings of this study are of interest to midwives and others who perform ultrasound examinations as it explains why adequate time must be allowed for the examination and the importance of the information given before hand. When introducing new forms of fetal diagnosis in the future it should be kept in mind that this might irrevocably be accepted by parents who long for confirmation of a new life.}},
  author       = {{Ekelin, Maria and Crang Svalenius, Elizabeth and Dykes, Anna-Karin}},
  issn         = {{1532-3099}},
  keywords     = {{Ultra sound; Pregnancy; Mothers’ and fathers’ experiences; Confirmation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{335--344}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Midwifery}},
  title        = {{A qualitative study of mothers' and fathers' experiences of routine ultrasound examination in Sweden.}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/2686863/624287.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.midw.2004.02.001}},
  volume       = {{20}},
  year         = {{2004}},
}