Table 3 Theme, categories and sub-categories
Theme | Category | Sub-category |
|---|---|---|
Obstetric ultrasound – a routine tool with far-reaching influence | I. Experiencing pros and cons of ultrasound | Optimising pregnancy outcomes |
Providing choice, reassurance and boding | ||
Contributing to medicalisation of pregnancy | ||
Leading to complex decision-making dilemmas and parental anxiety | ||
II. Viewing ultrasound as a normalised and unquestioned examination | A standard component with diverse meanings | |
A fully informed choice? | ||
Reducing societal tolerance for disability? | ||
III. Reflecting on the fetus as a person in relation to the pregnant woman | Visualisation technology contributes to personification of the fetus | |
The law versus personal views | ||
Stating maternal rights as the first priority |