Abstract:
This research aimed to examine the psychological experiences of mothers with prenatal diagnosed Down syndrome (DS) child. Interpretative phenomenological analysis research method was employed in this research. Participants were seven mothers, aged between thirty-eight to forty-four years old who received the diagnosis of genetic diseases and the results of the tests showed that children with DS and pregnant mothers decided to continue their pregnancy. Informants selected by purposive sampling. Data were collected via in-depth interview method. An analyzed of psychological experience of mother with prenatal diagnosed DS child resulted in five main themes which were (1) Attitude of the mothers toward the DS consisted of starting with a negative attitude toward DS, understanding and acceptance of DS and having willingness to share the experience, and desire an understanding toward DS from society (2) Bonding between mother and child consisted of loving and attachment bond between mother and child, and worrrying about DS child (3) Feeling that occurs when mother received a prenatal diagnosis with DS child consisted of the primary feeling when mother know about child with DS, continued feeling after know about child with DS, and mother blaming herself and husband for the cause of child with DS (4) Decision to continue the pregnancy consisted of decision making to continue or terminate pregnancy, support from family and friends, seeking for psychological support, seeking for information about DS, and psychological effects from decision making (5) Parenting a child with DS consisted of helping from family members and others for caring on child with DS, internal changing of the mother of child with DS, and guidelines for caring on child with DS. The research findings provide better understanding on psychological experience of mother with prenatal diagnosed DS child. The result can be beneficial for pregnant women to get information about screened test, prenatal diagnosis and also help women to making decision about to continue or terminate. The result can be used as guidelines for organizations in providing psychological support for pregnant women that children with DS.