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Cited by 110Grief, Bereavement, and Mental HealthPrenatal Screening and DiagnosticsMaternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

The psychosocial sequelae of a second‐trimester termination of pregnancy for fetal abnormality

Mourik, M. C. A. White‐Van, Connor, J. M., Ferguson‐Smith, M. A.·1992·Prenatal Diagnosis
DOI 10.1002/pd.1970120308
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Abstract

A retrospective study to investigate the psychosocial sequelae of a second‐trimester termination of pregnancy (TOP) for fetal abnormality (FA) is described. After appropriate consent was obtained, 84 women and 68 spouses were visited 2 years after the event and asked to complete an extensive questionnaire. Most couples reported a state of emotional turmoil after the TOP. There were differences in the way couples coped with this confusion of feelings. After 2 years about 20 per cent of the women still complained of regular bouts of crying, sadness, and irritability. Husbands reported increased listlessness, loss of concentration, and irritability for up to 12 months after the TOP. In the same period, there was increased marital disharmony in which 12 per cent of the couples separated for a while and one couple obtained a divorce. These problems could be attributed to a lack of synchrony in the grieving process. Confusing and conflicting feelings led to social isolation and lack of communication. Difficulties in coming to terms with the fetal loss were not found to be linked to the type of fetal abnormality or religious beliefs but were related to parental immaturity, inability to communicate needs, a deep‐rooted lack of self‐esteem before the pregnancy, lack of supporting relationships, and secondary infertility. Suggestions for improved management are given.

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  • The greatest risk to a relationship after perinatal loss is presented by unequal or noncongruent grieving processes between partners.

    “In summary, it has been shown that the greatest risk to a relationship is presented by unequal or noncongruent grieving processes between partners.52,53”

    From Complicated grief after perinatal loss (2012) · cites this paper as [53]

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Authors
Mourik, M. C. A. W., Connor, J. M., & Ferguson‐Smith, M. A.
Venue
Prenatal Diagnosis
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1992-03
Volume
12
Issue
3
Pages
189-204
ISSN
  • 0197-3851 (ISSN-L)
  • 1097-0223
DOI
10.1002/pd.1970120308
OpenAlex
W2004367167
Cited by
110
References
17
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 4
FWCI
5.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 5013 d)
Locations
  • Prenatal Diagnosis (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
University of Glasgow
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Prenatal Screening and Diagnostics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Keywords
second-trimester pregnancy termination, fetal malformations, psychosocial sequelae, fetal death, grief, marital conflict, couples, coping, social isolation, secondary infertility, parental self-esteem, religious beliefs
MeSH terms
Congenital Abnormalities, Abortion, Therapeutic, Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Counseling, Female, Humans, Infertility, Female, Male, Marriage, Retrospective Studies, Socioeconomic Factors

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