Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
common despite the known accuracy of positive pregnancy tests
and experience of early pregnancy physiological changes as
depicted by this woman “ until the moment you see that scan I
think that’s when its reality, you’re not just pregnant because you
have done a test,..or you have been falling asleep. .and in that
moment the whole thing becomes real”.
One woman questioned “is it a bit too early at a 12 weeks booking
visit scan to tell a woman her baby is healthy”, while one woman
mentioned the potential of the scan to determine “if an abnormality
in the baby is found the doctor will tell after”.
The clarity of the scan amazed women “I couldn’t believe how clear
the image was…there was a perfectly formed head, bum, legs,
hands moving like mad…”.
“I was sitting there holding on for hours”
Some women felt the full bladder sensation while waiting for the
scan was uncomfortable and distracting.
“like to drink and hold on to it for a long while and you’re waiting
around and there’s three or four in front of you and you’re like oh
God this is too much”
“I could see something with one eye”
The conduct of the scan proved to be either a good experience or
very disappointing for some women who felt “it was so quick, I
could see with one eye only…”, Women felt there was not adequate
time available for the scan or for the ultrasonographer to address
their concerns and worries.
Conversely woman felt “the woman doing the scan was really good,
she was really reassuring like the way she moved it around so you
could see, she showed us like in 3D its a lot easier to read than in a
picture, so it was really good”.
Conclusion
The study findings highlight the enormous focus women place on
technology and the scan at the first booking visit thus impacting
their experience of the first antenatal booking visit.
Recommendations
The study findings highlight the need for a national study of
women’s experience of the first antenatal ultrasound scan and their
understanding of the purpose and capability of the scan.
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