The Mother-Baby Bond: Role of Past and Current Relationships

Abstract

During the perinatal period, up to 25% of women experience difficulties in relating to their child. The mother-child bond promotes the transition to motherhood, protects the woman from depression, and protects the child from the intergenerational transmission of the disease. This study prospectively investigated if the relationship with the co-parent, the attachment style, and the bond that women had with their parents influenced the mother-fetus and then mother-child bond. We also explored the role of depression and anxiety. One hundred nineteen pregnant women were enrolled. We administered clinical interviews and psychometric tools. A telephone interview was conducted at 1, 3, and 6 months of follow-up. Maternal insecure attachment style (r = −0.253, p = 0.006) and women’s dyadic adjustment in the couple’s relationships (r = 0.182, p = 0.049) were correlated with lower maternal–fetal attachment. Insecure attachment styles and depression correlate with bottle-feeding rather than breastfeeding. The bond women had with their mothers, not their fathers, was associated with breastfeeding. Depression (OR = 0.243, p = 0.008) and anxiety (OR = 0.185, p = 0.004; OR = 0.304, p < 0.0001) were related to mother-infant bonding. Close relationships, past and present, affect the bond with the fetus and the child differently. Psychotherapy can provide reassuring and restorative intersubjective experiences.

Psychological Characteristics of Women with Perinatal Depression Who Require Psychiatric Support during Pregnancy or Postpartum: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Finally, anxiety was a significant predictor of antenatal depression only. As mentioned, pregnancy can be a source of concern for the uncertainty of not yet having the baby in the flesh, not knowing if he will be born healthy, the fear of going through labor and delivery, and anxiety about the future role of mother [ 70 ].…”

Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy, Personal Well-Being and Related Factors in Pregnant Women Living in a District of Istanbul

“…In general, breast milk is extremely important in terms of improving and maintaining health and well-being, providing adequate and balanced nutrition. Moreover, breast milk contributes to the healthy growth and development of the baby and has positive effects on the immune system [7][8][9][10][11]. The risks of many diseases including asthma, obesity, diabetes, celiac disease, severe lower respiratory tract disease, atopic dermatitis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are lower in breastfed babies [4,12,13].…”

“…In addition, breastfeeding facilitates a mother's return to her pre-pregnancy weight [14]. A mother's sense of bonding with her baby is also strengthened by breastfeeding [7]. In terms of women's and children's health, there is a need to continue and support breastfeeding and to disseminate programs that support breastfeeding with breast milk [15].…”