During this time, they experienced uncertainty that forced them to confront both their and the foetus’ vulnerability – ‘a high-risk woman with the chance to have an abnormal foetus’. Marteau et al. (1989) noted that expectant mothers are better able to tolerate the balance of the pregnancy when results are normal. In this study, even women with normal results awaiting the birth of their child expressed some uncertainty. The feelings of relief from a normal result varied depending on the quality of procedure-related information and the woman’s state of mind as well as her understanding of the test and her expectation of having a child.