Case Study

Changes in the Mental Status of Pregnant Women with Multiple Congenital Fetal Anomaly

I Made Darmayasa
Udayana University, Indonesia
William Alexander Setiawan
Udayana University, Indonesia
* Corresponding author
Debrayat Osiana
Udayana University, Indonesia
Anak Agung Ngurah Andika Damarnegara
Udayana University, Indonesia
DOI icon 10.24018/ejmed.2022.4.6.1558

Read Counter
746

Downloads
209

Citations

Share

Article Sidebar

Submitted 2022-10-19
Published 2022-12-24

Read counter = 746 times

Table of Contents

Article Main Content

Background: A diagnosis of Congenital Fetal Anomaly (CFA) is an unexpected event and will cause adequate psychological distress for the woman and her family and can be associated with a severe emotional trauma. This will present a new challenge whether to continue the pregnancy or to terminate the pregnancy. Termination of pregnancy caused by a CFA will cause significant long-term psychological stress to the mother and family.

Objective: To study and determine the changes of mental status in a pregnant patient with CFA who will undergo pregnancy termination.

Methods: This is a case report of pregnant women with CFA whose pregnancy will be terminated at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Polyclinic of Prof. dr. I.G.N.G. Ngoerah Central General Hospital Denpasar. In-depth interviews were conducted to assess mental conditions before and after the termination of pregnancy was carried out.

Results and Discussion: It was reported a woman with 22 weeks of pregnancy with CFA who was undergo antenatal care in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Polyclinic Room at Prof. dr. I.G.N.G Ngoerah Central General Hospital Denpasar and the pregnancy will be terminated. There are feelings of sadness, loss of interest, and anxiety after knowing that the fetus has CFA and must be terminated. There is a feeling of guilt because she feels her actions caused the death of the patient's fetus. At the time of termination of pregnancy, the patient feels sad and cries when she sees the fetus. She feels that she already has a bond with the fetus that she carried even though it is not yet fully formed.

Conclusion: Termination of pregnancy is a difficult process for both parents. This process can cause a number of mental disorders such as anxiety disorders, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in both parents. The decision-making process is a difficult time that can lead to feelings of guilt. In the decision-making process, the pregnancy termination team must consider all aspects, both psychological and cultural, that the patient adheres to.

Keywords: Congenital fetal anomaly, pregnant women, psychosocial, mental status

References

  1. Kamranpour B, Noroozi M, Bahrami M. Supportive needs of women who have experienced pregnancy termination due to fetal abnormalities: A qualitative study from the perspective of women, men and healthcare providers in Iran. BMC Public Health. 2019: 19.
    DOI  |   Google Scholar
  2. Nekah AS, Irani M, Khadivzadeh T, Asghari Nekah M, Ebrahimipour SH, Tara F. Emotional and Cognitive Experiences of Pregnant Women Following Prenatal Diagnosis of Fetal Anomalies: A Qualitative Study in Iran. IJCBNM. 2019; 7: 22-31.
     Google Scholar
  3. Darmayasa IM, Friska, Anggakusuma. Cognitive, Emotion and Behavioral Reactions in Pregnant Women Who Have Termination of Pregnancy due to Congenital Fetal Anomaly. European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences. 2022; 4: 1-2.
    DOI  |   Google Scholar
  4. Hanschmidt F, Treml J, Klingner J, Stepan H, Kersting A. Stigma in the context of pregnancy termination after diagnosis of fetal anomaly: associations with grief, trauma, and depression. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2018; 21: 391-399.
    DOI  |   Google Scholar
  5. Jacob L, Kostev K, Gerhard C, Kalder M. Relationship between induced abortion and the incidence of depression, anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder, and somatoform disorder in Germany. J Psychiatr Res. 2019; 114: 75-79.
    DOI  |   Google Scholar
  6. Qin C, Chen WT, Deng Y, Li Y, Mi C, Sun L, et al. Cognition, emotion, and behaviour in women undergoing pregnancy termination for foetal anomaly: A grounded theory analysis. Midwifery. 2019; 68: 84-90.
    DOI  |   Google Scholar
  7. Sun S, Li J, Ma Y, Bu H, Luo Q, Yu X. Effects of a family-support programme for pregnant women with foetal abnormalities requiring pregnancy termination: A randomized controlled trial in China. Int J Nurs Pract. 2018: 24.
    DOI  |   Google Scholar
  8. Sun S, Yang M, Zhang J, Zhou X, Jia G, Yu X. Family support for pregnant women with foetal abnormality requiring pregnancy termination in China. Health Soc Care Community. 2020; 28: 1020-1029.
    DOI  |   Google Scholar
  9. Kamranpour B, Noroozi M, Bahrami M. Psychological experiences of women with pregnancy termination due to fetal anomalies: A qualitative study from the perspective of women, their spouses, and healthcare providers in Iran. Reprod Health. 2020: 17.
    DOI  |   Google Scholar
  10. Asplin N, Wessel H, Marions L, Ohman SG. Pregnant women’s perspectives on decision-making when a fetal malformation is detected by ultrasound examination. Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare. 2013; 4: 79-84.
    DOI  |   Google Scholar


Most read articles by the same author(s)

<< < 1 2 3 4 > >>