Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease increases maternal stress, depression, and anxiety

Infants who were prenatally diagnosed with congenital heart disease (CHD) are more stable and have better outcomes than infants who were diagnosed after birth. Diagnosing CHD in a fetus also allows mothers to educate themselves on heart malformations, consider their options, and potentially plan for intervention or surgery after birth. However, a new study finds that, along with these benefits, maternal post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety are common after prenatal diagnosis of CHD.

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