Outcome of children born after pregnancy denial

Denial of pregnancy remains a phenomenon little known to healthcare professionals. Yet its repercussions are far from negligible. The aim of this study was to assess whether denial of pregnancy has an impact on the infant's development.

This prospective study included 51 full-term infants born in Nancy Regional Maternity Hospital between 1 January 2009 and 30 June 2015. In this study, the development of the children was followed longitudinally. We collected data during the neonatal period, at 9months, and at 2years of age from the infants' file and standardized medical certificates, and current data through a telephone questionnaire. Three fundamental aspects of the infants' development were analyzed: height and weight growth, psychomotor development, and the existence of pathologies. Given that this was a preliminary study aiming at exploring facts, no statistical tests were carried out.

The rate of denial of pregnancy was one birth in 300 during the study period. These infants showed proportional intrauterine growth restriction, which leveled out later, with their height and weight growth normal by month 9. The full-term perinatal mortality rate was 5%. The infants showed no sign of increased morbidity; 20% of them presented with delayed psychomotor development at 9months of age, with an increased impact as they grew older. The rate reached 30% after 24months, half of which were language disorders.

The results of this preliminary study point out the need for thorough monitoring of these infants throughout infancy.