Maternal coping, appraisals and adjustment following diagnosis of fetal anomaly

ABSTRACT Objective So far, associations between appraisals, maternal adjustment and coping following diagnosis of fetal anomaly have not been investigated in women who continue with their pregnancy. Method This study measured maternal coping and adjustment after and appraisal of a diagnosis of fetal anomaly in 40 mothers who had continued with their pregnancy using a cross‐sectional questionnaire design. Results Based on retrospective reporting, 35% of participants met full diagnostic criteria for post‐traumatic stress disorder after having received the diagnosis. Women were significantly more depressed (p