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 ap proximately 1 week before and 1 week after their first ultrasound screening . Analysis of the inter views was conducted using the techniques of grounde d theory. The results showed that ultrasound was of great importance for in creasing 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 ultr asound influences these categories of thought.