Immediate post-natal management of the mothers of Down's syndrome and spina bifida children in Scotland 1971-1981.

A questionnaire completed by the mothers of 123 children with Down's syndrome and 109 children with Spina bifida born over the past 10 years in Scotland has shown that the majority of mothers were given either a poor outlook or no outlook at all for their children. Only a minority were referred to social workers while in hospital. The separation from their child shortly after birth is a significant factor in both groups of mothers particularly mothers of Spina bifida children, 61% of whom never saw their child during their stay in hospital. While 41% of Down's mothers received a visit from a parent of a Down's child only 16% of Spina bifida mothers were so visited. Two-thirds of those not offered such a visit would have welcomed one.