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Pregnant women need the support of their spouse
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Every pregnant woman worries about the health of her future baby, but unfortunately, it is impossible to “program” the birth of a healthy child.
However, it is possible to find out if everything is OK with the baby in the early stages of pregnancy. Modern laboratory diagnostic methods will allow to detect dangerous diseases in the fetus, such as Edwards syndrome, Down syndrome or neural tube defects. This method is called prenatal diagnostics.
It includes three screening methods:
- Biochemical analysis - blood test of a pregnant woman for various indicators
- Ultrasound examination. Identification of anomalies in the development of the child using ultrasound
- Analysis of data on the mother and child: age, gestational age, body weight, presence of diseases and other factors affecting the health of the child.
However, no matter how good this method is, after any abnormalities are detected in the child, for example, a congenital heart defect, pregnant women experience enormous stress, anxiety, and sometimes become depressed.
A trusting relationship with her husband and professional help from health workers can help support a pregnant woman in such a situation and help maintain her peace of mind and calm, experts from the Philadelphia Children's Heart Center report.
Jack Ritchiek, MD, lead author of the study and director of the Fetal Heart Program, says, “Being told that you have a congenital heart defect can be devastating and can increase your anxiety. Prenatal testing is helpful because it gives you time to learn more about your baby’s condition and how to treat it. However, no matter what the screening results are, having your spouse by your side and being there for you is incredibly important.”
It is especially important to conduct prenatal diagnostics in the first trimester of pregnancy (10-13 weeks), because then the psychological shock will be significantly lower than when developmental pathologies are discovered at a later stage.
Although prenatal diagnostics gives parents the opportunity to learn about the health of the baby while still in the womb, there is a risk that the woman will decide to terminate the pregnancy without even fully understanding the situation. Therefore, you should not make any far-reaching conclusions, but be sure to consult a specialist.
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