Effect of counseling on maternal-fetal attachment in women with unplanned pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial

Ekrami, Fatemeh; Mohammad‐Alizadeh‐Charandabi, Sakineh; Kheiroddin, Jalil Babapour; Mirghafourvand, Mojgan

doi:10.1080/02646838.2019.1636943

Cited by 18 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Parental-fetal attachment can be modifiable by specific supporting interventions that are efficacious in promoting the quality of parental bonding [161][162][163][164][165]. These programs for parents-to-be should encourage parents' fantasies about their baby, their proximity to the future child, and their care of the fetus [102,147].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prenatal Attachment and Perinatal Depression: A Systematic Review

Rollé

Giordano

Santoniccolo

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Pregnancy is a period of complex bio-psychological changes, during which the development of an attachment bond to the fetus takes on a central role. Depressive symptoms are common during this period. Both symptoms of depression and low levels of prenatal attachment are related to negative outcomes in caregivers and infants. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement, this systematic review analyzes and systematizes 41 studies concerning the association between prenatal attachment and perinatal depression. The majority of the studies reported a significant association between the two. Specifically, prenatal depressive symptoms were found to be negatively associated with prenatal attachment. Furthermore, lower levels of prenatal attachment were related to higher postnatal depressive symptoms, although fewer studies assessed this association. While these results were found across different populations, conflicting findings emerged, suggesting they should be interpreted with caution, particularly in male samples and in non-normative pregnancies (e.g., high-risk pregnancies, medically assisted pregnancies, and pregnancies with previous perinatal losses). These results are clinically important for the perinatal screening process and for implementing preventive and treatment programs. However, future studies are needed to further confirm and generalize these results.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prenatal Attachment and Perinatal Depression: A Systematic Review

Rollé

Giordano

Santoniccolo

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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“…What is interesting is that although almost half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned [11], most families are able to adapt to these unexpected circumstances [12]. However, the maternal-fetal attachment level in unplanned pregnancies is weaker than their planned counterparts [13] which can influence further maternal-child bonding and child outcomes. Acknowledging that many factors influence maternal-child bonding such as planned vs. unplanned pregnancy, parental stress, occurrence of depressive symptoms, and so on, due to limitations related to the volume of the text, we would like to focus on the maternal attachment style and one's self-image as a mother, image of one's mother as a mother, and bond with the child over a period of several months.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Dynamics of Becoming a Mother during Pregnancy and After Childbirth

Zdolska-Wawrzkiewicz

Bidzan

Chrzan-Dętkoś

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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Background: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between one’s maternal attachment style and one’s self-image as a mother, image of one’s mother as a mother, and bond with the child over a period of several months. Methods: A total of 86 women took part in the study The Adjective Check List (ACL), Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ), Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale (MFAS), and a modified version of the Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR) were used. Two measurements were used: during pregnancy and about six months after the birth of the child. Results: In terms of their self-image as mothers, the women had higher results the first time they took the questionnaire, regardless of their attachment style. An interaction effect was found between attachment style and the ‘need for changes’ scale. The image of one’s mother as a mother depended on the level of avoidance in attachment, regardless of the measurement. An interaction effect was found between attachment style and the scale of ‘personal adaptation’. There was a correlation between the bond with the child during pregnancy, the bond following birth, and the style of maternal attachment; the main predictor of the bond with the child after birth is the bond with the child during the pregnancy. Conclusion: Those who provide care for pregnant women and new mothers should be aware of the complex psychological processes in the transition to motherhood, have knowledge about perinatal mental health, and when necessary, refer women to specialists such as support groups for new mothers, trained midwives, psychologists, psychotherapists, or psychiatrists.

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“…Since all of the studies confirmed the association between prenatal attachment and parent-to-infant attachment, and taking into account that parent-to-infant attachment can impact the well-being of the family system (e.g., the child's development and emotional regulation, parental responsiveness and sensitivity to the child's needs, mother-child interactions), regular screening processes, and preventive programs are suggested at an early stage of pregnancy aiming to increase the strength of the prenatal attachment and to indirectly influence the parent-child relationship after birth (Brandon et al, 2009;Young, 2013;Parfitt et al, 2014;Cataudella et al, 2016). Parental-fetal attachment can be modifiable by specific supporting interventions that emerged as effective (Brisch et al, 2003;Brecht et al, 2012;Akbarzade et al, 2014;Cunen et al, 2017;Ekrami et al, 2019;Parlakian and Kinsner, 2019). These programs -such as psychosomatically oriented antenatal classes, home visiting interventions or prenatal psychoeducation programs -support the development of the attachment bond by providing a psychic space for parenting, promote the parents' awareness of the presence and needs of the child, encourage parents' fantasies about their unborn baby and favor the parent's availability toward their child, perceived as a separate psychological being (Slade, 2005;Ammaniti et al, 2006;Vismara et al, 2020), providing support along the whole perinatal period (Cranley, 1981;Feldman, 2007Feldman, , 2012.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pre-natal Attachment and Parent-To-Infant Attachment: A Systematic Review

et al. 2021

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During the perinatal period, the establishment of the attachment relationship with the fetus and subsequently with the real child is crucial for the parents' and the child's well-being. Coherently with the assumption that the attachment relationship starts to develop during pregnancy, this systematic review aims to analyze and systematize studies focused on the association between pre-natal attachment and parent-to-infant attachment, in order to clarify the emerging results and provide useful information for clinical purposes. Nineteen studies were included. Sixteen researches identified a positive relationship between pre-natal attachment and parent-to-infant attachment, and three articles highlighted a negative association between antenatal attachment and post-partum bonding disorders. These results were found both in women and men, in normative and at-risk pregnancies, adopting different assessment approaches (i.e., self-report measures, observations, and projective measures). However, only small or moderate associations were found. Future studies are needed to further confirm these findings across different populations (e.g., male samples, non-normative samples or samples in disadvantaged conditions) and with different methodological approaches (e.g., observational measures). Moreover, studies would be needed in order to clarify mechanisms through which pre-natal attachment influences parent-to-infant attachment, as well as protective and risk factors which intervene between these two variables.

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Effect of counseling on maternal-fetal attachment in women with unplanned pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial

Cited by 18 publications

References 31 publications

Prenatal Attachment and Perinatal Depression: A Systematic Review

Prenatal Attachment and Perinatal Depression: A Systematic Review

The Dynamics of Becoming a Mother during Pregnancy and After Childbirth

Pre-natal Attachment and Parent-To-Infant Attachment: A Systematic Review

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