Coping styles of pregnant women after prenatal ultrasound screening for fetal malformation.

Objective: Ultrasound is a widespread noninvasive method of prenatal diagnosis. The detection of fetal abnormalities can provoke anxiety, which needs coping. The coping process of pregnant women with different risk conditions for fetal abnormality were studied in a longitudinal design and compared with a nonrisk control group of women with healthy uncomplicated pregnancies.