Systematic Review of the Literature

Advancing technology has made detecting fetal abnormalities in the first and second trimesters a reality. Few families are prepared for the difficult decisions that must be made if their unborn children are diagnosed with a life-limiting condition. Expectant parents are compelled to make decisions on the basis of limited options. A systematic review of the literature is presented with an aim to inform clinicians of parental experiences and outcomes after diagnosis of a fetal anomaly. The review focused on patients given a diagnosis for fetal anomalies for the 40-year period from 1970 to 2010 by using the key words such as fetal anomaly, congenital malformations, pregnancy termination, perinatal palliative…