A much valued tool that also brings ethical dilemmas - a qualitative study of Norwegian midwives' experiences and views on the role of obstetric ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: Midwives are the main providers of routine antenatal care services including the routine ultrasound examination in Norway. The ultrasound examination can be perceived by expectant parents not only as a medical examination but also as a social event facilitating attachment to their fetus. This study explores Norwegian midwives' experiences and views on the role of ultrasound in clinical management of pregnancy. METHODS: A qualitative study design was applied. Twenty-four midwives who all performed obstetric ultrasound examinations were recruited for focus group discussions and individual interviews. Data collection took place in 2015 in five hospitals in two different regions of Norway. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Midwives described obstetric ultrasound examinations as very valuable although doing ultrasounds placed high demands on their operational and counselling skills. Increasing requests for ultrasound from pregnant women were mentioned. Advancements in ultrasound diagnosis were considered to have put the fetus in the position of a patient, and that pregnant women declining ultrasound could be viewed as irresponsible by some health professionals. Ethical concerns were raised regarding the possibility of pregnancy termination when fetal anomalies were detected. Fears were also expressed that prenatal diagnoses including those following ultrasound, might create a society where only 'perfect' children are valued. However, participants stressed that their intention in performing ultrasound was to optimize pregnancy outcome and thereby assist expectant couples and their unborn children. CONCLUSIONS: Midwives in Norwegian maternity care services describe obstetric ultrasound as very valuable, playing a central role in pregnancy management by optimizing pregnancy outcomes. Although high demands are placed on operators' technical skills and counseling, midwives described performing obstetric ultrasound as very satisfying work. However, midwives believed that expectant parents' approach to the ultrasound examination, both its medical value and the precious images obtained of the fetus, could put extra strain on the midwives performing ultrasounds. The potential of ultrasound to detect fetal anomalies and the possibility that this may lead to termination of pregnancy, seemed to create some ambivalent feelings in midwives towards its use.

Midwives' and obstetricians' views on appropriate obstetric sonography in Norway.

INTRODUCTION: The primary aim of this study was to investigate midwives' and obstetricians' views on how many ultrasound examinations should be part of standard care during pregnancy in Norway. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study is a part of a larger study, the CROss-Country Ultrasound Study (CROCUS), an international investigation of midwives' and obstetricians' experiences of and views on the use of ultrasound. We distributed 400 questionnaires to respondents in all five health regions in Norway: 40 to municipal midwives, 180 to midwives working in hospitals and 180 to obstetricians. The questionnaire included specific questions about the appropriate number of examinations during pregnancy, examinations without medical indication, non-medical ultrasound, commercialisation and safety. RESULTS: The response rate was 45%. Of the respondents, 58% reported satisfaction with the offer of one scheduled ultrasound examination during pregnancy, as recommended in the Norwegian guidelines. Health care professionals who used ultrasound themselves were significantly more likely to want to offer more ultrasound examinations: 52% of the ultrasound users wanted to offer two or more ultrasound examinations vs. 16% of the non-users (p < .01). The majority of obstetricians (80%) reported that pregnant women expect to undergo ultrasound examination, even in the absence of medical indication. CONCLUSION: The majority of Norwegian health care professionals participating in this study supported the national recommendation on ultrasound in pregnancy. Ultrasound users wanted to offer more ultrasound examinations during pregnancy, whereas non-users were generally content with the recommendation. The majority of respondents thought that commercialisation was not a problem at their institution, and reported that ultrasound is often performed without a medical indication. The ultrasound users thought that ultrasound is safe.

'Without ultrasound you can't reach the best decision' - Midwives' experiences and views of the role of ultrasound in maternity care in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

OBJECTIVE: To explore Tanzanian midwives' experiences and views of the role of obstetric ultrasound in relation to clinical management of pregnancy, and in situations where maternal and fetal health interests conflict. METHOD: In 2015, five focus group discussions were conducted with midwives (N = 31) at three public referral hospitals in the Dar es Salaam region as part of the CROss Country Ultrasound Study (CROCUS). RESULTS: Ultrasound was described as decisive for proper management of pregnancy complications. Midwives noted an increasing interest in ultrasound among pregnant women. However, concerns were expressed about the lack of ultrasound equipment and staff capable of skilful operation. Further, counselling regarding medical management was perceived as difficult due to low levels of education among pregnant women. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound has an important role in management of pregnancy complications. However, lack of equipment and shortage of skilled healthcare professionals seem to hamper use of obstetric ultrasound in this particular low-resource setting. Increased availability of obstetric ultrasound seems warranted, but further investments need to be balanced with advanced clinical skills' training as barriers, including power outages and lack of functioning equipment, are likely to continue to limit the provision of pregnancy ultrasound in this setting.

Norwegian obstetricians' experiences of the use of ultrasound in pregnancy management. A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore obstetricians' experiences and views of the use of obstetric ultrasound in clinical management of pregnancy. METHODS: A qualitative interview study was undertaken in 2015 with obstetricians (N = 20) in Norway as part of the CROss Country Ultrasound Study (CROCUS). RESULTS: Three categories developed during analyses. 'Differing opinions about ultrasound and prenatal diagnosis policies' revealed divergent views in relation to Norwegian policies for ultrasound screening and prenatal diagnosis. Down syndrome screening was portrayed as a delicate and frequently debated issue, with increasing ethical challenges due to developments in prenatal diagnosis. 'Ultrasound's influence on the view of the fetus' illuminated how ultrasound influenced obstetricians' views of the fetus as a 'patient' and a 'person'. They also saw ultrasound as strongly influencing expectant parents' views of the fetus, and described how ultrasound was sometimes used as a means of comforting women when complications occurred. 'The complexity of information and counselling' revealed how obstetricians balanced the medical and social aspects of the ultrasound examination, and the difficulties of 'delivering bad news' and counselling in situations of uncertain findings. CONCLUSION: This study highlights obstetricians' experiences and views of ultrasound and prenatal diagnosis in Norwegian maternity care and the challenges associated with the provision of these services, including counselling dilemmas and perceived differences in expectations between caregivers and expectant parents. There was notable diversity among these obstetricians in relation to their support of, and adherence to Norwegian regulations about the use of ultrasound, which indicates that the care pregnant women receive may vary accordingly.

Improved maternity care if midwives learn to perform ultrasound: a qualitative study of Rwandan midwives' experiences and views of obstetric ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: Obstetric ultrasound has become an indispensable part of antenatal care worldwide. Although the use of ultrasound has shown benefits in the reduction of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality, it has also raised many ethical challenges. Because of insufficient numbers of midwives in Rwanda, uncomplicated pregnancy care is usually provided by nurses in local health centres. Obstetric ultrasound is generally performed by physicians at higher levels of healthcare, where midwives are also more likely to be employed. OBJECTIVES: To explore Rwandan midwives' experiences and views of the role of obstetric ultrasound in relation to clinical management, including ethical aspects. METHODS: A qualitative study design was employed. Six focus group discussions were held in 2015 with 23 midwives working in maternity care in rural and urban areas of Rwanda, as part of the CROss Country Ultrasound Study (CROCUS). RESULTS: Obstetric ultrasound was experienced as playing a very important role in clinical management of pregnant women, but participants emphasised that it should not overshadow other clinical examinations. The unequal distribution of ultrasound services throughout Rwanda was considered a challenge, and access was described as low, especially in rural areas. To increase the quality of maternity care, some advocated strongly for midwives to be trained in ultrasound and for physicians to receive additional training. In general, pregnant women were perceived both as requesting more ultrasound examinations than they received, and as not being satisfied with an antenatal consultation if ultrasound was not performed. CONCLUSIONS: Obstetric ultrasound plays a significant role in maternity care in Rwanda. Increasing demand for ultrasound examinations from pregnant women needs to be balanced with medical indication and health benefits. Training of midwives to perform obstetric ultrasound and further training for physicians would help to address access to ultrasound for greater numbers of women across Rwanda. RESPONSIBLE EDITOR Virgilio Mariano Salazar Torres, Karolinska Institute, Sweden.

Prenatal diagnosis in Sweden 2011 to 2013-a register-based study.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal diagnosis involves methods used in early pregnancy as either screening tests or diagnostic methods. The aims of the study were to i) investigate guidelines on prenatal diagnosis in the counties of Sweden, ii) investigate uptake of prenatal diagnosis, and iii) background characteristics and pregnancy outcomes in relation to different prenatal diagnostic methods. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study using data from the Swedish Pregnancy Register 2011 to 2013 (284,789 pregnancies) was performed. Additionally, guidelines on prenatal diagnosis were collected. Biostatistical and epidemiological analyses were performed including calculation of odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals in univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: The national uptake of routine ultrasound examination, Combined Ultrasound and Biochemical test (CUB), Amniocentesis (AC) and Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) were 97.6, 33.0, 2.6 and 1.1%, respectively. From 2012, 6/21 counties offered CUB test to all pregnant women, nine counties at specific indications, and five counties did not offer CUB at all. Advanced maternal age demonstrated the highest impact on uptake of prenatal diagnosis. Further, university educational level in relation to lower educational level was associated with an increased likelihood of undergoing CUB (OR 2.30, 95% CI 2.26-2.35), AC (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.46-1.63) and CVS (OR 2.68, 95% CI 2.44-2.93). CONCLUSION: Offers of prenatal diagnosis varied considerably between counties resulting in unequal access to prenatal diagnosis for pregnant women. The intentions of the Swedish Health and Medical Services Act stating equal care for all, was thus not fulfilled.

Increasing possibilities - Increasing dilemmas: A qualitative study of Swedish midwives' experiences of ultrasound use in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: to explore Swedish midwives' experiences and views of the use of obstetric ultrasound in clinical management of pregnancy, and in situations where maternal and fetal health interests conflict. DESIGN: an exploratory qualitative study based on focus group discussions (FGDs) was undertaken in 2013 as part of the CROss Country Ultrasound Study (CROCUS). Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: midwives (N=25) were recruited from four public hospitals located in the northern and central parts of Sweden. FINDINGS: the analysis resulted in three categories. The first 'Acknowledging ultrasound as optimising care but also as creating worry and ethical dilemmas' reflects midwives' experiences of two different aspects of ultrasound use, one being recognition of ultrasound as an important tool to optimise care and pregnancy outcomes, the other being the dilemmas that arise for maternity care in situations of uncertain or unwanted findings. The second category 'Dealing with insufficient informed consent processes and differing expectations of ultrasound' describes routine ultrasound as an unquestioned norm that means its full purpose and use is not always well communicated to, or understood by, expectant parents, resulting in differing expectations of ultrasound outcomes between caregivers and expectant parents. Midwives also experienced expectant parents as having great trust in ultrasound, with perceptions of 'all clear' scan as a 'guarantee' for a healthy baby. The third category 'Balancing maternal and fetal health interests in a context of medico-technical development' included experiences of the fetus being given greater importance in maternity care as diagnostic and fetal treatment possibilities increase; that new methods are often introduced without appropriate ethical discussion; and also that ethical challenges will increase in line with increasing demand for 'quality assurance' in pregnancy. KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: midwives described ultrasound as a vital tool in pregnancy surveillance and management, facilitating conditions to be optimised for the woman and her baby during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. However, the increasing possibility of obtaining detailed information about the fetus was also experienced as increasing ethical dilemmas in maternity care. This study indicates that there is a need to improve informed consent processes regarding the use of ultrasound for prenatal screening and diagnostic purposes. The ambivalence midwives expressed in relation to management of ultrasound findings furthermore indicates a need for ongoing training for maternity care professionals to increase confidence in counselling women and to promote consistency in management. Finally, it is important to monitor any increasing focus on the fetus by care providers for potential impacts on women's autonomy to make their own decisions about pregnancy and birth.

'It made you think twice' - an interview study of women's perception of a web-based decision aid concerning screening and diagnostic testing for fetal anomalies.

BACKGROUND: Enabling women to make informed decisions is a key objective in the guidelines governing prenatal screening and diagnostics. Despite efforts to provide information, research shows that women's choice of prenatal screening is often not based on informed decisions. The aim of this study was to investigate pregnant women's perceptions of the use of an interactive web-based DA, developed to initiate a process of reflection and deliberate decision-making concerning screening and testing for fetal anomalies. METHODS: A qualitative study was applied and individual interviews were conducted. Seventeen pregnant women attending antenatal healthcare in Uppsala County, Sweden, who had access to the decision aid were interviewed. Eleven opted to use the decision aid and six did not. Data were analysed by systematic text condensation. RESULTS: Women appreciated the decision aid, as it was easily accessible; moreover, they emphasised the importance of a reliable source. It helped them to clarify their own standpoints and engaged their partner in the decision-making process. Women described the decision aid as enhancing their awareness that participating in prenatal screening and diagnostics was a conscious choice. Those who chose not to use the web-based decision aid when offered reported that they already had sufficient knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: The decision aid was able to initiate a process of deliberate decision-making in pregnant women as a result of their interaction with the tool. Access to a web-based decision aid tool can be valuable to expectant parents in making quality decisions regarding screening for fetal anomalies.

'Essential but not always available when needed' - an interview study of physicians' experiences and views regarding use of obstetric ultrasound in Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: The value of obstetric ultrasound in high-income countries has been extensively explored but evidence is still lacking regarding the role of obstetric ultrasound in low-income countries. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore experiences and views among physicians working in obstetric care in Tanzania, on the role of obstetric ultrasound in relation to clinical management. DESIGN: A qualitative study design was applied. Data were collected in 2015, through 16 individual interviews with physicians practicing in obstetric care at hospitals in an urban setting in Tanzania. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Use of obstetric ultrasound in the management of complicated pregnancy was much appreciated by participating physicians, although they expressed considerable concern about the lack of ultrasound equipment and staff able to conduct the examinations. These limitations were recognized as restricting physicians' ability to manage complications adequately during pregnancy and birth. Better availability of ultrasound was requested to improve obstetric management. Concerns were also raised regarding pregnant women's lack of knowledge and understanding of medical issues which could make counseling in relation to obstetric ultrasound difficult. Although the physicians perceived a positive attitude toward ultrasound among most pregnant women, occasionally they came across women who feared that ultrasound might harm the fetus. CONCLUSIONS: There seems to be a need to provide more physicians in antenatal care in Tanzania with ultrasound training to enable them to conduct obstetric ultrasound examinations and interpret the results themselves. Physicians also need to acquire adequate counseling skills as counseling can be especially challenging in this setting where many expectant parents have low levels of education. Providers of obstetric care and policy makers in Tanzania will need to take measures to ensure appropriate use of the scarce resources in the Tanzanian health care system and prevent the potential risk of overuse of ultrasound in pregnancy.

Physicians' experiences and views on the role of obstetric ultrasound in rural and urban Rwanda: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore Rwandan physicians' experiences and views on the role of obstetric ultrasound in clinical management of pregnancy, and in situations where maternal and fetal health interests conflict. METHODS: Physicians (n = 19) in public and private health facilities in urban and rural Rwanda were interviewed in 2015 as part of the CROss-Country Ultrasound Study (CROCUS). Data were analysed qualitatively. RESULTS: Ultrasound was described as an important tool in maternity care. Availability and quality of equipment varied across sites, and considerable disparities in obstetric ultrasound utilisation between rural and urban areas were described. The physicians wanted more ultrasound training and saw the potential for midwives to perform basic scans. Information about fetal sex and well-being was described as women's main expectations of ultrasound. Although women's right to autonomy in pregnancy was supported in principle by participating physicians, fetal rights were sometimes seen as needing physician 'protection'. CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be increasing use and demand for obstetric ultrasound in Rwanda, particularly in urban areas. It seems important to monitor this development closely to secure wise and fair allocation of scarce obstetric expertise and resources and to prevent overuse or misuse of ultrasound. Raising awareness about the benefits of all aspects of antenatal care, including ultrasound may be an important step to improve pregnant women's uptake of services. Increased opportunities for formal ultrasound training, including the training of midwives to perform basic scans, seem warranted. Moreover, in parallel with the transition to more medico-technical maternity care, a dialogue about maternal rights to autonomy in pregnancy and childbirth is imperative.

Two sides of the same coin--an interview study of Swedish obstetricians' experiences using ultrasound in pregnancy management.

BACKGROUND: The extended use of ultrasound that is seen in maternity care in most Western countries has not only affected obstetric care but also impacted on the conception of the fetus in relation to the pregnant woman. This situation has also raised concerns regarding the pregnant woman's reproductive freedom. The purpose of this study was to explore Swedish obstetricians' experiences and views on the role of obstetric ultrasound particularly in relation to clinical management of complicated pregnancy, and in relation to situations where the interests of maternal and fetal health conflict. METHODS: A qualitative study design was applied, and data were collected in 2013 through interviews with 11 obstetricians recruited from five different obstetric clinics in Sweden. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The theme that emerged in the analysis 'Two sides of the same coin' depicts the view of obstetric ultrasound as a very important tool in obstetric care while it also was experienced as having given rise to new and challenging issues in the management of pregnancy. This theme was built on three categories: I. Ultrasound is essential and also demanding; II. A woman's health interest is prioritised in theory, but not always in practice; and III. Ultrasound is rewarding but may also cause unwarranted anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: The widespread use of ultrasound in obstetric care has entailed new challenges for clinicians due to enhanced possibilities to diagnose and treat fetal conditions, which in turn might conflict with the health interests of the pregnant woman. There is a need for further ethical discussions regarding the obstetrician's position in management of situations where maternal and fetal health interests conflict. The continuing advances in the potential of ultrasound to impact on pregnancy management will also increase the need for adequate and appropriate information and counselling. Together with other health care professionals, obstetricians therefore need to develop improved ways of enabling pregnant women and their partners to make informed decisions regarding pregnancy management.

Challenges and benefits of conducting parental classes in Sweden: Midwives' perspectives.

OBJECTIVE: There is lack of knowledge regarding antenatal care midwives' perspectives concerning parental classes provided during pregnancy, and this study aimed to explore midwives' experiences and thoughts about these parental class activities. METHODS: Twenty-six semi-structured, individual, telephone interviews were carried out with midwives at antenatal clinics across Sweden, and the data were analysed using systematic text condensation (STC). RESULTS: The midwives noted that parental classes were a demanding task, and they appeared to lack the confidence and skills required to manage the classes. They expressed a "need for collaborators to achieve the objectives" (theme 1). The midwives felt that "creating new networks is most valuable for parents" (theme 2), and they were also "striving to give the 'whole picture' to both parents" (theme 3), i.e. looking beyond just the delivery. Although they had the ambition, midwives realised it was "not possible to reach all" (theme 4). CONCLUSIONS: Organisational resources as well as developing skills to lead groups are imperative for midwives to fulfil the goals of the parental classes. The midwives are aware that they cannot reach all parents with the group format; thus, it is important to acknowledge the needs of minority populations and develop multidisciplinary collaborations to be able to better address their needs.

'Women think pregnancy management means obstetric ultrasound': Vietnamese obstetricians' views on the use of ultrasound during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To explore Vietnamese obstetricians' experiences and views on the role of obstetric ultrasound in clinical management of complicated pregnancy and in situations where maternal and fetal health interests conflict. DESIGN: Seventeen obstetricians in northern Vietnam were interviewed as part of the CROss-Country Ultrasound Study (CROCUS) project in 2013. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The participants described ultrasound as a central tool in prenatal care, although they called for increased training and resources to prevent inappropriate management. A prevailing overuse driven by women's request and increased commercialisation was described. Other clinical examinations were seen as being disregarded by women in favour of ultrasound, resulting in missed opportunities for identifying potential pregnancy complications. The use of ultrasound for sex selection purposes raised concern among participants. Visualisation of human features or heartbeat during ultrasound was commonly described as the point where the fetus became regarded as a 'person'. Women were said to prioritise fetal health interests over their own health, particularly if a woman had difficulties becoming pregnant or had undergone assisted fertilisation. The woman's husband and his family were described as having an important role in decision-making in situations of maternal and fetal health conflicts. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insight into issues surrounding ultrasound use in contemporary Vietnam, some of which may be specific to this low-income context. It is clear that ultrasound has become a central tool in prenatal care in Vietnam and that it has also been embraced by women. However, there seems to be a need to balance women's demands for obstetric ultrasound with better recognition of the valuable contribution to be made by the full range of clinical examinations in pregnancy, along with a more strategic allocation of resources, that is, use of obstetric ultrasound based on clinical indications. Better regulation of private obstetric practice also appears to be needed. While the root causes of sex selection need to be addressed at societal level, efforts are also required more immediately to find ways to combat the inappropriate use of ultrasound for the purpose of sex selection.

Ultrasonographic fetal soft markers in a low-risk population: prevalence, association with trisomies and invasive tests.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of soft markers identified at second trimester ultrasound in a low-risk population and the association of these markers with trisomies and invasive testing. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Swedish University Hospital. POPULATION: All women with fetuses examined by ultrasound at 15(+0) -22(+0)  weeks gestation between July 2008 and March 2011. METHODS: Cases with soft markers were compared with non-cases with regard to trisomies and invasive testing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of soft markers, likelihood ratio for trisomies and risk ratio for invasive tests after detection of soft markers. RESULTS: Second trimester ultrasound was performed on 10 710 fetuses. Markers were detected in 5.9% of fetuses. 5.1% were isolated, 0.7% were multiple and 0.1% were combined with an anomaly. Presence of markers showed a positive likelihood ratio for Down syndrome, but the association (likelihood ratio = 7.1) was only statistically significant for the combined category of any marker (isolated, multiple or combined with anomaly). The risk ratio for invasive testing after the second trimester ultrasound was 24.0 in pregnancies with isolated soft markers compared with those without markers. CONCLUSION: In a low-risk population, soft markers were found in 5.9% of fetuses at second trimester ultrasound. The likelihood ratio for Down syndrome was significant only for any marker (isolated, multiple or combined with anomaly). The presence of soft markers increased the incidence of invasive procedures substantially. Soft markers should be noted when information on second trimester ultrasound is formulated, and all units performing fetal ultrasound examinations should have established routines concerning information management when soft markers are identified.

Facts first, then reaction--expectant fathers' experiences of an ultrasound screening identifying soft markers.

BACKGROUND: expectant fathers often attend pregnancy ultrasound but their needs are poorly examined, especially in connection with adverse findings. OBJECTIVE: to explore men's expectations of routine ultrasound and experiences when soft markers were discovered. DESIGN/SETTING: a qualitative study at Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden where semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 17 expectant fathers 6-12 weeks after the discovery of a soft marker at the routine ultrasound scan. FINDINGS: five major themes emerged: (1) 'immediate reaction: frustration and thoughts about consequences', (2) 'need for facts to gain control', (3) 'concern about the partner', (4) 'in retrospect: almost okay but routines need changing' and (5) 'amniocenteses or not: a joint decision with several considerations'. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTISE: these findings contribute important knowledge about men's needs related to pregnancy ultrasound with unexpected findings, and their role in decision-making concerning fetal diagnostics. Our results show that men enter a role of a kind of fact manager and have both a psychological need as well as the capacity to perceive important information during the process following the detection of a soft marker in the fetus. Practitioners conducting pregnancy ultrasound should therefore have relevant knowledge to be able to provide immediate information about soft markers, including risk assessment for chromosomal defects. In addition to this, written information about soft markers should be available to expecting parents in this situation.

Did I really want to know this? Pregnant women's reaction to detection of a soft marker during ultrasound screening.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate women's expectations of routine ultrasound and experiences when soft markers were discovered: what the disclosure meant, how it affected them, how they experienced the information given and why they did or did not choose amniocentesis. DESIGN: Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 women 25-30 weeks into the pregnancy, 7-13 weeks after the discovery of a soft marker. FINDINGS: Women lacked knowledge about the potential of the scan and detection of soft markers created strong emotional reactions that women thought could have been alleviated by prior information about potential findings. Information in connection with the scan was perceived as insufficient. Decision about amniocentesis was affected by attitudes to disability, anxiety about fetal loss due to the procedure, need for certainty by a diagnostic test, and partner's opinion. CONCLUSIONS: Women were shocked by the unexpected and sometimes unwanted information on elevated risk for a chromosomal aberration for which they lacked any preparation. Because this event often has long-lasting effects on the pregnancy, models of information that are efficient in promoting informed decisions are imperative. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Both women and their partners need relevant information before and in connection with ultrasound scan to be able to make informed choices.