Ultrasound as a technology of reassurance? How pregnant women and health care professionals articulate ultrasound reassurance and its limitations

Bibliographic Data

ID2249256
AuthorsG M Thomas (0000-0003-4959-2337, School of Social Sciences Cardiff University Cardiff UK, corresponding author), Julie Roberts (0000-0001-6099-9600, Division of Midwifery School of Health Sciences University of Nottingham Nottingham UK), Frances Griffiths (0000-0002-4173-1438, University of Warwick), Frances E Griffiths (Warwick Medical School University of Warwick Coventry UK)
Year2017
Volume39
Issue6
Pages893-907
Publication date2017-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociology of Health & Illness (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0141-9889 • E-ISSN: 1467-9566
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/1467-9566.12554
PMID28326555
OpenAlexW2563812384
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited41

The premise that ultrasound technologies provide reassurance for pregnant women is well-rehearsed. However, there has been little research about how this reassurance is articulated and understood by both expectant mothers and health care professionals. In this article, we draw on two qualitative UK studies to explore the salience of ultrasound reassurance to women's pregnancy experiences whilst highlighting issues around articulation and silence. Specifically, we capture how expectant parents express a general need for reassurance and how visualisation and the conduct of professionals have a crucial role to play in accomplishing a sense of reassurance. We also explore how professionals have ambiguities about the relationship between ultrasound and reassurance, and how they subsequently articulate reassurance to expectant mothers. By bringing two studies together, we take a broad perspectival view of how gaps and silences within the discourse of ultrasound reassurance leave the claims made for ultrasound as a technology of reassurance unchallenged. Finally, we explore the implications this can have for women's experiences of pregnancy and health care professionals' practices

Acoustics · Articulation (sociology · Epistemology · Health care · Health professionals · Obstetrics · Pregnancy · Premise · Qualitative research · Salience (neuroscience · Silence · Sociology · Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology