Aminocentesis: its impact on mothers and infants. A 1-year follow-up study.

In a 1-year follow-up study, the effects of amniocentesis for genetic diagnosis upon 22 infants and their mothers were assessed. The infants were tested at 1 year of age on the Bayley Infant Scale of Mental and Motor Development. No deviations from normal mental or motor development were found. The mothers were interviewed at the same time, in order to better understand the emotional aspects of the experience. Women between ages 35-39 with no previously affected child tended to accept amniocentesis easily, as an appropriate part of parnatal care. Mothers with a previous defective child tended to have more painful emotional reactions, including higher anxiety over the test and more conflict about a possible abortion. They needed more intensive and extended counseling. We suggest that the issue of abortion is important, even if manageable by most women, and that a chance to discuss it may be significant.