To explore the relationship between prenatal parental stress and pregnancy outcome, this study investigated the hypothesis that parents of infants with defects would report greater amounts of stress in the year prior to their infant's birth than would parents of normally developing infants. Data on levels of parental stress were obtained from 37 marital pairs who had delivered infants with birth defects. Parental stress was assessed on a control group of 37 marital pairs who delivered a child with no birth defects. Both groups were similar in age, marital status, economic status, and the age of their infants, which was less than 6 months. Commonly experienced family stressors were assessed for both groups. Significantly higher levels of family stress were found in the individual and combined parental stress scores of the parents who had delivered infants with birth defects. Parents of normally developing infants were asked to identify use of stress management techniques. Those who experienced stress identified positive stress management techniques, and indicated that support systems, particularly family members, were most useful. Implications of the findings for nursing practice are discussed. The survey instruments and a 33-item reference list are appended. (Author/RH)