Parents' Experiences, Reactions and Needs Regarding a Nonviable Fetus Diagnosed at a Second Trimester Routine Ultrasound
Abstract
Objective To conceptualize women's and their partners' experiences and ways of handling the situation before, during, and after second trimester ultrasound examination with the diagnosis of a nonviable fetus.Design A grounded theory study.Setting A Swedish regional hospital.Participants Nine women and 6 men (n=15) were interviewed within a year of the event.Results The core category was Unexpected change in life. Four categories that were encompassed by the core category emerged: (a) Deceived by a false sense of security; (b) Confronting reality; (c) Grieving; and (d) Reorientation.Conclusion These parents were unprepared for the diagnosis of a nonviable fetus. In addition to the crisis reaction, they realized that the sense of security they had experienced was false. As different care givers were involved, the need for a care plan was evident. Support from care givers was a very important factor.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
With the exception of 12 studies, almost all included studies used convenience, purposive or snowball sampling to recruit participants.
“With the exception of 12 studies, [25, 55, 68, 81, 86, 88–90, 92, 94–96], almost all studies used convenience, purposive or snowball sampling to recruit participants.”
From Men’s grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal loss: a systematic review and emerging theoretical model (2020) · cites this paper as [68]
Men with a history of loss did not report different or increased levels of grief (nine qualitative studies).
“In contrast, men with a history of loss in nine qualitative studies [46, 61, 62, 68, 71, 72, 78, 82, 83] did not report different or increased levels of grief.”
From Men’s grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal loss: a systematic review and emerging theoretical model (2020) · cites this paper as [68]
In 15 studies, men described having to suppress or put aside their own grief to take on the supporter role.
“In 15 studies, men described having to suppress or put aside their own grief to take on this role [46, 57–59, 61, 62, 68, 71, 72, 74, 75, 77, 81, 82, 85].”
From Men’s grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal loss: a systematic review and emerging theoretical model (2020) · cites this paper as [68]
Being a supporter to female partner and family was one of the most consistently reported and important elements relating to men's grief across qualitative studies.
“Although not a factor quantified for measurement in any quantitative studies, one of the most consistently reported and important elements relating to men’s grief across qualitative studies was being a ‘supporter’ to their female partner and family.”
From Men’s grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal loss: a systematic review and emerging theoretical model (2020) · cites this paper as [68]
Twenty-three qualitative studies identified an element of the supporter role from men's responses.
“Twenty-three qualitative studies identified an element of the supporter role from men’s responses [46, 55–59, 61, 62, 65, 68, 69, 71–75, 77–82, 85].”
From Men’s grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal loss: a systematic review and emerging theoretical model (2020) · cites this paper as [68]
In 10 studies, some men reported positive experiences with healthcare staff.
“In 10 studies, some men reported positive experiences with healthcare staff [46, 60, 61, 64, 68, 73, 75, 78, 81, 82].”
From Men’s grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal loss: a systematic review and emerging theoretical model (2020) · cites this paper as [68]
The role of healthcare professionals was recognised as essential to the bereavement process in one quantitative and 13 qualitative studies.
“Similar to support from family and friends, the role of healthcare professionals was recognised in one quantitative study [70] and 13 qualitative studies [46, 56, 60–62, 64, 65, 68, 72, 73, 78, 81, 82] as essential to the bereavement process.”
From Men’s grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal loss: a systematic review and emerging theoretical model (2020) · cites this paper as [68]
Parents who experienced support of specialist bereavement care teams or follow-up telephone calls commented positively.
“Three studies noted that providers who worked “extra hard” to provide both medical and practical information to men were valued [81], and parents who experienced the support of specialist bereavement care teams, or follow-up telephone calls from care providers, commented positively on this [68, 78].”
From Men’s grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal loss: a systematic review and emerging theoretical model (2020) · cites this paper as [68]
Cites
Wagner, H. R., Glaser, B. G., & Strauss, A. L. (1968) · Social Forces · doi:10.2307/2575405 · Cited by 46,470 · see citing works
The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research
Brodsky, C. (1968) · Psychosomatics · doi:10.1016/s0033-3182(68)71872-7 · Cited by 6,727 · see citing works
(1998) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 2,953 · see citing works
Development of a Tool for the Measurement of Maternal Attachment During Pregnancy
Cranley, M. S. (1981) · Nursing Research · doi:10.1097/00006199-198109000-00008 · Cited by 803 · see citing works
Outcome measures for adult critical care: a systematic review.
Hayes, Black, Jenkinson, Young, D., Rowan, Daly, & Ridley (2000) · Health Technology Assessment · doi:10.3310/hta4240 · Cited by 413 · see citing works
Bricker, L., Garcia, J., Henderson, J., Mugford, M., Neilson, J. P., Roberts, T. E., & Martin, M. A. (2000) · PubMed · Cited by 293 · see citing works
Glaser, B. G. (1998) · Cited by 242 · see citing works
Maternal–fetal attachment: an integrative review
Cannella, B. L. (2005) · Journal of Advanced Nursing · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2004.03349.x · Cited by 219 · see citing works
Bricker, L., García, Henderson, Mugford, Neilson, Roberts, T. E., & Martin (2000) · Health Technology Assessment · doi:10.3310/hta4160 · Cited by 178 · see citing works
Salisbury, A. L., Law, K. L., LaGasse, L., & Lester, B. M. (2003) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.289.13.1701 · Cited by 130 · see citing works
GUILT AND EMPTINESS: WOMEN'S EXPERIENCES OF MISCARRIAGE
Adolfsson, A., Larsson, P. ‐., Wijma, B. E., & Berterö, C. (2004) · Health Care For Women International · doi:10.1080/07399330490444821 · Cited by 125 · see citing works
A qualitative study of mothers’ and fathers’ experiences of routine ultrasound examination in Sweden
Ekelin, M., Crang‐Svalenius, E., & Dykes, A. (2004) · Midwifery · doi:10.1016/j.midw.2004.02.001 · Cited by 117 · see citing works
Self-citationSalvesen, K. Å., Øyen, L., Schmidt, N. B., Malt, U. F., & Eik‐Nes, S. H. (1997) · Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology · doi:10.1046/j.1469-0705.1997.09020080.x · Cited by 117 · see citing works
Coping With Grief After Involuntary Pregnancy Loss: Perspectives of African American Women
Van, P., & Meleis, A. I. (2003) · Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing · doi:10.1177/0884217502239798 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
On what grounds do women participate in prenatal screening?
Santalahti, P., Aro, A. R., Hemminki, E., et al. (1998) · PubMed · Cited by 90 · see citing works
The prevalence of non‐viable pregnancy at 10–13 weeks of gestation
Pandya, P. P., Snijders, R. J. M., Psara, N., Hilbert, L., & Nicolaides, K. H. (1996) · Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology · doi:10.1046/j.1469-0705.1996.07030170.x · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Abboud, L., & Liamputtong, P. (2005) · Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology · doi:10.1080/02646830512331330974 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
ADOLFSSON, A., BERTERÖ, C., & LARSSON, P. (2006) · Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica · doi:10.1080/00016340500539376 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
The Miscarriage Experience: More Than Just a Trigger to Psychological Morbidity?
Maker, C., & Ogden, J. (2003) · Psychology and Health · doi:10.1080/0887044031000069343 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
White, L. M., Treat, K. M., Leff, A., Styers, D., Mitchell, M., & Knoll, J. H. M. (1998) · Prenatal Diagnosis · doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-0223(199802)18:2 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
THE TRAUMA OF ULTRASOUND DURING A PREGNANCY FOLLOWING PERINATAL LOSS
O’Leary, J. M. (2005) · Journal of Loss and Trauma · doi:10.1080/15325020590908876 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Brisch, K. H., Munz, D., Bemmerer-Mayer, K., Kächele, H. U., TERINDE, R., & Kreienberg, R. (2002) · Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology · doi:10.1080/0264683021000033156 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Ekelin, M., Svalenius, E. C., & Dykes, A. (2008) · Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology · doi:10.1080/02646830701691368 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Self-citationWeaver, R. H., & Cranley, M. S. (1983) · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Ultrasound screening in pregnancy.
Kazal, L. A. (1992) · PubMed · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Obst, K. L., Due, C., Oxlad, M., & Middleton, P. (2020) · BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth · doi:10.1186/s12884-019-2677-9 · Cited by 222 · see citing works
Men and Miscarriage: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis
Williams, H. M., Topping, A., Coomarasamy, A., & Jones, L. L. (2020) · Qualitative Health Research · doi:10.1177/1049732319870270 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
- Authors
- Ekelin, M., Crang-Svalenius, E., Nordström, B., & Dykes, A.-K.
- Affiliations
- Lund University (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Ekelin, Maria
- ORCID
- Ekelin, Maria
- Venue
- Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2008-07
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 446-454
- ISSN
- 0090-0311 (ISSN-L)
- 0884-2175
- OpenAlex
- W2170193925
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 1.86
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Lund University Publications (Lund University) (submittedVersion)
- 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 › Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
- Keywords
- second-trimester ultrasound, parental experiences, grief, crisis reactions, false sense of security, care planning, caregiver support
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Aftercare, Attitude to Health, Empathy, Female, Fetal Death, Grief, Health Services Needs and Demand, Humans, Life Change Events, Male, Models, Psychological, Parents, Patient Care Planning, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Trimester, Second, Surveys and Questionnaires, Social Support, Sweden, Nursing Methodology Research, Ultrasonography, Prenatal, Maternal-Child Nursing
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
