Researchers found that parents often face increased depression and stress after discovering fetal anomalies. This study, published on June 20 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, looked at how this impacts both mothers and fathers, especially when pregnancy termination is involved.
Mona Bekkhus, Ph.D., from the University of Oslo, led the study. The team aimed to explore the immediate and long-term effects of stress on men and women after fetal anomalies led to terminating pregnancies. The study included 87 out of 180 women who terminated their pregnancies due to detected fetal anomalies. Their 72 partners were also part of the study. A control group included 93 women and their 81 partners who chose not to terminate their pregnancies after receiving a diagnosis.
All participants completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Impact of Events Scale (IES). The findings showed that women who terminated their pregnancies experienced higher levels of depression than those who chose not to. However, traumatic stress levels remained similar between the two groups.
Men showed differences in both depression and traumatic stress compared to women. For example, they experienced more “intrusion” on the IES scale, with a mean difference of 5.31. Over time, women had significantly more depressive symptoms than men. They also showed higher levels of traumatic stress across various subscales, including IES intrusion.
The study highlights the importance of understanding both women’s and men’s emotional responses during this difficult period. The authors stress the need for clear communication, nonjudgmental support, and timely counseling services for both parents.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-07-depression-stress-parents-fetal-anomalies.html
