Shakes, Pieta, and Cashin, Andrew (2021) Mental health nursing and the prenatal diagnosis of a congenital anomaly; a narrative of experience. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 28 (2). pp. 271-277.

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Abstract

Introduction: Expectant parents who receive a prenatal diagnosis of a congenital anomaly often experience shock, distress and a heightened risk of mental illness.

Aim: This paper aimed to highlight the gap in psychosocial support for parents who receive a prenatal diagnosis through the personal narrative of a mental health nurse who received a third-trimester diagnosis.

Method: The first-author reviewed her medical records and photos to recall moments of the experience and prompt reflection.

Findings: The narrative moved through the shock, guilt and subsequent pathological anxiety that followed a prenatal diagnosis at 32-week gestation and the option to terminate.

Discussion: The gap in psychosocial supports for parents who receive a prenatal congenital anomaly diagnosis raises the risk to parental mental health and potentially confounds the risk to the baby. Mental health nurses are well-positioned as service providers to fill this gap.

Implications for Practice: The provision of psychosocial support after a prenatal diagnosis is within the mental health nurse scope of practice. This support may be provided through pregnancy support counselling, innovative nurse-led perinatal mental health services or as additional support to a parent with the lived experience of mental illness who receives a prenatal diagnosis of a congenital anomaly.

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