Special Report: Four families explain the importance of the 20-week fetal anomaly scan

There is no easy way to tell parents at any stage of pregnancy that their baby has a severe fetal abnormality and may die in the hours or days after birth. But delivering a late diagnosis only adds to the trauma and grief. So say the doctors and parents who spoke to Health Correspondent Catherine Shanahan about the importance of a 20-week fetal anomaly scan.

’We looked at each other and held our breath... she told us to prepare for the worst’

It was Thursday afternoon, October 3, 2013 and the O’Donovans were headed for Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH), excited and delighted at the prospect of a 12-week pregnancy scan.