[Parents' reactions to the birth of a child with a congenital anatomical abnormality: an exploratory study]. / De reacties van ouders op de geboorte van een kind met een aangeboren anatomische afwijking: een oriënterend onderzoek.

ABSTRACT

In an exploratory study of 12 couples the emotional reactions to the birth of a child with extensive anatomical malformation were investigated retrospectively, using semistructured interviews (on average 18 months after the birth). The couples were selected from the group of parents of children admitted between January 1986 and August 1988 to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of the Sophia Hospital, Rotterdam. The couples were divided into three groups those who had had no ultrasonography during the pregnancy (n = 4), those in whom ultrasonography during pregnancy had revealed a foetal abnormality (n = 4) and those in whose children no such diagnoses had been made at ultrasonography during pregnancy (n = 4). After the birth of a child with congenital abnormalities, most parental couples displayed a shock reaction, denial, anger and hurt. In general there was no difference in emotional reaction between the three groups. In all couples the mourning process appeared to have begun only after the birth. Parents of a child with clearly visible abnormalities appeared to have more problems. Two-thirds of the couples had accepted the child's anomaly after some time. Persistent anger, feelings of guilt and anxiety are probably due to uncertainty regarding complications in the child or another pregnancy. Teams treating a child with a congenital anomaly should be aware of the consequences for the parents and should regard support of the parents as an essential part of their task.