The importance of ultrasound to first-time mothers’ thoughts about their unborn child

The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of ultrasound to women's thoughts about their unborn child. Ten primigravidae were interviewed approximately 1 week before and 1 week after their first ultrasound screening. Analysis of the interviews was conducted using the techniques of grounded theory. The results showed that ultrasound was of great importance for increasing the women's awareness of bearing a child. This realization process was expressed in various categories of thoughts about the unborn child: (1) the existing foetus, (2) the coming child, (3) the woman's life situation, (4) parenthood and (5) delivery. The paper examines the way in which ultrasound influences these categories of thought.