You and your partner
The reactions of others
Most parents will describe an array of emotional responses after receiving genetic test results that indicate their baby has an abnormality. These feelings can range from disbelief, anger, confusion, incredible sadness, blame, jealousy, heartache, emptiness, shame, a sense of unfairness and guilt. A common reaction is devastation and feeling profoundly affected. One parent described the news as "an unexpected emotional assault', because he did not consider anything like this would ever happen.
Emotional reactions to the results can be similar to post traumatic stress, with many parents feeling shocked or 'stunned' as they try to integrate the reality of the crisis they are experiencing. These responses can make everything seem 'surreal', creating feelings of detachment and perhaps indirectly making them distance themselves from others and their unborn baby. The grief may be particularly intense because it is coming at a time which is usually happy and filled with joyful anticipation. Parents who receive such bad news may find it particularly difficult to watch friends and family experience uncomplicated pregnancies and healthy babies. This can lead to feeling isolated and that others do not understand what you are going through (which they probably don't).
A few parents anticipate unfavourable results, perhaps because of counselling they received prior to the testing, making them consider the possibility of their baby having an abnormality or perhaps they have a family history of a disorder, or have had a previous baby with an abnormality. If the genetic test is undertaken for a specific problem and another problem is discovered, then the whole situation has to be reassessed and new decisions made. Whatever the case, most parents still hold an underlying belief that their baby will be OK, and are shocked by the reality of test results indicating that this may not be the case.