"Life-altering": A qualitative analysis of social media birth stories from mothers of children with Down syndrome

Receiving a Prenatal or Postnatal Diagnosis of (Dis)Ability: The Role and Importance of the Nurse

ABSTRACT

The phenomenon of carrying and birthing an infant with a (dis)ability is complex and emotionally driven for parents. Infants with (dis)abilities are at risk for long-term health and developmental challenges, which may cause fear and stress in families. Parents report dissatisfaction with their experience of learning of their infant's (dis)ability diagnosis. After unexpected news is given to expecting or new parents prenatally or postnatally, it is the nurse who is often left with parents during an extremely emotional and vulnerable time. Although nurses play a pivotal role in supporting parents through this vulnerable time, their specific role is not well defined. This narrative synthesis reviews the role of the nurse during complex family situations and applies findings to their role in supporting families through receiving the diagnosis of a (dis)ability for their infant either prenatally or postnatally. Nurses can assist parents through this process of adaptation by using a compassionate and empathetic approach in their care, facilitating opportunities for parent-infant bonding, speaking with person-first language, clarifying complex information, and assisting with allocation of various internal and external resources. Future research dedicated to the creation of best practice clinical guidelines on communicating with families during the diagnosis of (dis)ability would assist nurses and other health care professionals in meeting the multifaceted and sensitive needs of parents and families, ultimately contributing to improved health outcomes for the parents, family, and infant.

Adaptation at the Family Level in Families of Individuals With Down Syndrome: A Scoping Review

Down syndrome (DS) is a chromosomal disorder associated with intellectual and physical disabilities and has historically been viewed by health care providers through a negative lens when considering the effect the condition has on the individual, family, and community. The purpose of this scoping review was to provide an overview of recent research concerning adaptation in families of individuals with DS with a focus on family adaptation rather than individual or dyadic adaptation. Three literature indexes were searched from 2017 to 2022, with 41 articles included. Foci of the studies included strength/resilience, stress/coping, and negative/challenge. Thirteen studies reported using a family framework. Multiple methodological approaches and family measures were used in the studies and are outlined. Findings from this review show there has been a shift in focus when researching families of individuals with DS from a negative and challenging experience to one of strength and resilience.