Enhancing Maternal-Fetal Connection: Fostering Prenatal Bonding in Primigravida Women Through Leopold Maneuvers.

This study aimed to determine the effect on pregnant women's prenatal attachment of a nursing practice using the first and second Leopold's maneuvers. This experimental, randomized and controlled study was conducted in a pregnancy class of a training and research hospital in Kocaeli, Turkey from September 2016 to September 2017. Its sample included 100 pregnant women, 50 in the experimental group and 50 in the control group (https://www.random.org, accessed: 09.20.2016). Data were collected using a personal information form, the Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI) and the Fetal Position Awareness Scale (FPAS). The study offered education that included fetal development, the first and second Leopold's maneuvers, and Leopold's maneuvers were administered in the 28th week of the women's pregnancy and re-administered in the 32nd and 36th weeks of pregnancy. No intervention was administered to the control group in these weeks, but the scales were administered. The sociodemographic, obstetric, social support and baby-related characteristics of the groups were similar (p > .05). There were no statically significant differences between their mean PAI and FPAS scores in the 28th week of pregnancy (p > .05). The experimental group's mean PAI and the FPAS scores in the 32nd and 36th weeks of pregnancy were significantly higher than those of the control group (p < .01). The study concluded that Leopold's maneuvers affected the pregnant women's prenatal attachment levels.

This study aimed to determine the effect of fetal movement counting on maternal-fetal attachment. This study was a randomized controlled trial, conducted with experimental and control groups, each including 55 pregnant women from six family health centers in the Malatya Province, located in the east of Turkey. The data were collected by using a Personal Information Form and the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale. Training for fetal movement counting was provided to the experimental group. The pre- and posttraining maternal-fetal attachment levels of the experimental group (fetal movements that were regularly counted for 4 weeks) and the control group (continual routine monitoring) were compared. In the pretraining pretest, no difference was found between the maternal-fetal attachment scores of the experimental and the control groups, whereas the maternal-fetal attachment score of the experimental group was found to be higher than that of the control group in the post-test that was applied 4 weeks later. This research indicated that fetal movement counting positively affected maternal-fetal attachment.

Maternal-foetal attachment (MFA) seems essential for adapting to motherhood and the healthy development of the child, with direct implications for clinical practice. It is often assessed using the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS), which covers two dimensions: quality and intensity of attachment. However, studies including the MAAS presented missing or inadequate psychometric properties. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of both the original and the recently introduced brief German version of the MAAS. Data from 184 pregnant women from a longitudinal study were used. Women (≥ 18 years old) were recruited between the 18th and 22nd weeks of gestation while waiting for routine prenatal diagnostic appointments. Participants answered the MAAS, together with other questionnaires measuring maternal mental health, self-esteem, and social support. For both versions of the MAAS (19 items vs. 13 items), item characteristics, confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability were calculated and compared. Moreover, associations between the brief German MAAS and theoretically related constructs were analysed using correlation coefficients. In this study, item analyses revealed better psychometric properties for the brief German MAAS than for the original MAAS, with a significant reduction in items with inadequate discriminatory power. The internal consistency (α ≥ .69) and test-retest reliability (ICC ≥ .62) were acceptable to good for both MAAS versions. With regard to structural validity, factor analysis of the German MAAS presented acceptable to good global model fit indices for the model with correlated factors (GFI > .90; RMSEA ≤ .08; SRMR < .10) in the current sample. In contrast, most global model fit indices of the original MAAS were not acceptable. The construct validity of the German MAAS was demonstrated on the basis of small-to-moderate correlations with a variety of constructs (e.g., measures of depression, anxiety, stress). According to the present results, the brief German version of the MAAS represents a reliable and valid measurement instrument of MFA for use in clinical practice. Further studies examining possible cut-off values are needed to identify pregnant women with significant attachment difficulties who may benefit from additional support.

Background:Maternal–fetal attachment (MFA) refers to the bond between a mother and her baby that starts when the mom-to-be develops emotional, cognitive, and behavioral aspects toward the unborn baby and can...

Background of the study: The earliest relationship does not begin at birth. The concept of prenatal attachment is defined as the subjective feeling state of love for the unborn child. Developing an attachment for one’s unborn child is considered an important milestone in the future parents’ developmental trajectory. Pregnancy is a natural, pleasant process in a woman’s life, which is also associated with significant stresses due to the physical and mental changes. Evidence suggests that the emergence of maternal-fetal attachment, is a predictive factor for the postpartum maternal attitude and function, mother-infant interaction, and attachment after birth. Mothers with a higher level of fetal attachment during pregnancy have been shown to have more effective interactions with their infants, which in turn has a substantial impact on the growth and emotional, cognitive, and social development of the child. Aim: To compare the knowledge and attitude regarding prenatal attachment among primigravida women residing in selected urban and rural communities. Material and methods: A quantitative research approach with non-experimental comparative research design was adopted to assess the knowledge and attitude regarding prenatal attachment among primigravida women residing in selected urban and rural communities of District Mohali, Punjab. A total of 100 primigravida women i.e., 50 from urban and 50 from rural community were selected using non-probability convenient sampling technique. Results: Present study result showed that in urban community majority of primigravida women (42%) had moderate knowledge; while in rural community majority of primigravida women (56%) had in-adequate knowledge regarding prenatal attachment. Results related to attitude revealed that in urban community majority of primigravida women (62%) had favorable attitude where as in rural community majority of primigravida women (68%) had unfavorable attitude towards prenatal attachment. Conclusion: Based on the findings, the study was urban community has adequate knowledge and favorable attitude then rural community. Hence, the study suggests that considering the importance of prenatal attachment in child’s development and mother’s health, prenatal period can be an appropriate time to educate the women regarding maternal fetal attachment and its importance and benefits of attachment to the fetus.

Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effects of 3D-Printed Models and 3D Ultrasonography on Maternal–Fetal Attachment

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of a supportive program on uncertainty, anxiety, and maternal-fetal attachment in high-risk pregnant women. The participants were 59 high-risk pregnant women admitted to the maternal-fetal intensive care unit. The control group (n=30) received usual treatment and antenatal care, while the experimental group (n=29) received an additional supportive program. Uncertainty, anxiety, and maternal-fetal attachment were measured in both groups prior to the intervention and at 3 days and 10 days after the intervention (or at discharge). Data were analyzed with the t-test, chi-square test, repeated-measures analysis of covariance, and the Greenhouse-Geisser correction in SPSS version 23.0. A supportive program including information provision, nutritional care, emotional care, and exercise care was developed from the literature. All variables except women's length of stay were found to be homogeneous the between experimental and control groups in the pre-test. Length of stay was calculated as a covariate for testing hypotheses. There was a significant difference in state anxiety over time between the two groups, while there were no differences in uncertainty or maternal-fetal attachment. This supportive program was identified as an effective nursing intervention on state anxiety in high-risk pregnant women during their stay in the maternal-fetal intensive care unit. It is suggested that nurses could apply this program to alleviate high-risk pregnant women's state anxiety, and that this program could be modified to be more effective on uncertainty and maternal-fetal attachment in high-risk pregnant women.

Primigravida has impacts related to preparedness for the transition into motherhood. Thus, its can disrupt the attachment between the mother and the fetus. This study aimed to determine the effects of prenatal spiritual-based stimulation on maternal-fetal attachment. This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a control group and was conducted among primigravida women in Indonesia. The study included 66 respondents selected through purposive sampling. They were divided into the intervention and control groups, each comprising 33 participants. The intervention group received prenatal spiritual-based stimulations, which involved auditory, kinesthetic, light, and temperature stimulations and were administered over a 12-week period. Data on maternal-fetal attachment were collected using the Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI), which had been tested for validity and reliability. Approval to use the instrument was obtained from its original author. Data analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon and Mann Whitney tests. The results showed that the Wilcoxon test yielded a p-value of 0.000 or significant differences were observed before and after intervention for the intervention group and 0.059 no significant differences were observed before and after the intervention for the control group. The Mann Whitney test revealed a p-value of 0.000, there were differences in the maternal-fetal attachment before and after the intervention. Therefore, spiritual-based prenatal stimulation is effective in enhancing maternal-fetal attachment. These results can provide a basis for pregnant women to apply spiritual-based prenatal stimulation interventions to enhance maternal-fetal attachment and health status.

Objective: The prevalence of prenatal depression in pregnant women has found to be high, which may adversely affect the intimacy of a mother to her fetus. Few studies have investigated the relationship between prenatal depression and maternal-fetal attachment in pregnant Chinese women. This study is thus designed to evaluate the prevalence rate, predictive factors of prenatal depression in Chinese pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy, and the effect of prenatal depression on maternal-fetal attachment.Methods: A total of 340 pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy were recruited from a hospital in Anhui Province. The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) was rated to assess the prenatal depression; the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) were used to assess sleep quality and anxiety level for all participants. The Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS) was used to assess maternal-fetal attachment.Results: The prevalence of prenatal depression in the participants was high (19.1%) in our study. The scores of prenatal anxiety and sleep disorders were higher with prenatal depression than in those without prenatal depression (47.6 ± 9.5 vs. 38.9 ± 6.9; 8.3 ± 3.3 vs. 6.1 ± 2.7, all p < 0.01). MAAS quality was lower in prenatal depression women than those in non-prenatal depression women (43.8 ± 5.6 vs. 46.4 ± 4.5, p < 0.01). Correlation analysis showed that prenatal depression was associated with parity, prenatal education, education level, marital satisfaction, anxiety and sleep disorders (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, binary logistic regression results showed that anxiety and sleep disorders were risk factors for prenatal depression. Prenatal education, higher marriage satisfaction were protective factors for prenatal depression. In addition, correlation analysis also showed that prenatal depression was positively correlated with MAAS intensity, but negatively correlated with MAAS quality.Conclusions: Our results indicated a high prevalence of prenatal depression in women in the third trimester. Prenatal education and higher marital satisfaction were protective factors for prenatal depression; antenatal anxiety and sleep disorders during pregnancy were risk factors for prenatal depression. Prenatal depression was negatively correlated with MAAS quality, but positively correlated with MAAS intensity.

P-1000 - The hungarian version of maternal antenatal attachment scale in measuring prenatal attachment

Background:Fear of childbirth (FOC) is considered as one of the factors influencing the increase of elective cesarean section. The appropriate solution to reduce the FOC has not yet been identified.Objective:The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of haptonomy intervention on FOC and maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) among primigravid women‎.Methods:This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 68 primigravid women with a gestational age of 24-28 weeks who referred to health centers in Tabriz, Iran with a FOC score above 65. Participants were randomly assigned into the intervention and control groups. The intervention group (n=34) received haptonomy in 5 sessions, once a week for 45-60 minutes, and control group received an information pamphlet about pain management options in labor and fetal development during pregnancy. The data were collected using Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire-version A, Cranley’s MFA Scale, and Revised Pregnancy Related Anxiety Questionnaire, before the intervention and at gestational age of 35-37 weeks. The data were analyzed using Chi-square, independent t-test, and ANCOVA.Findings:After intervention and controlling the effect of baseline score, the mean score of FOC in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group [Adjusted mean difference (AMD): -23.67, 95% CI: - 28.12 to -19.23, P =0.001]. Further, the mean score of MFA indicated a significant difference between the two groups [AMD: 10.12, 95% CI: 6.44 to 13.8, p &lt;0.001].Conclusion:The results of the present study revealed the effectiveness of the haptonomy intervention in reducing FOC and increasing MFA. Therefore, the use of haptonomy intervention is recommended among mothers with high and severe FOC and low MFA.

Maternal-fetal attachment is crucial for a mother to establish a healthy psychological relationship with her unborn baby. This relationship progresses during the week of gestation. Many studies support the evidence of the impact of maternal-fetal attachment on mothers’ mental well-being during both antenatal and postnatal. For a baby, maternal-fetal attachment is essential to determine his development. Family, particularly the husband, plays an essential role in supporting the mother to experience positive maternal-fetal attachment during pregnancy. This study was to investigate the relationship between family support with maternal-fetal attachment among expectant mother. This sample was drawn using the purposive sampling method based on criteria that include mothers in their third trimester, mothers with any age range, mothers with no complications during the current pregnancy, and mothers who stay together with their husbands and or family. Seventy-seven expectant mothers completed the Indonesian version of the Prenatal Attachment Inventory and family support questionnaires. Kendal tau was applied to calculate the statistical relationship between two variables (p&lt;0.05). The results showed that more than 50% mother obtained support from their family, and more than 50% mother have high score of maternal-fetal attachment. There were a significant relationship between family support and maternal-fetal attachment (p&lt; 0.000). The conclusion of this study was that there were a significant relationship between family support with maternal-fetal attachment. This finding provides evidence of the significant role of family support for maternal mental well-being through maternal-fetal attachment during pregnancy. Therefore, healthcare providers have to invite the husband or family to engage in support for the mother during their pregnancy.

Effects of non-supervised aerobic exercise on sleep quality and maternal-fetal attachment in pregnant women: A randomized controlled trial

Examen des propriétés psychométriques de la traduction française de la Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS)

Mothers who experience unplanned pregnancies tend to show less maternal attachment to the fetus, which can lead to diminished self-care during pregnancy, and affect well-being of the fetus. Consequently, unintended pregnancies are associated with heightened maternal and fetal consequences due to mothers' negligence. Hippotherapy intervention has emerged as a viable approach to enhance maternal-fetal communication. The ultimate goal of this study was to broaden our current understanding of haptotherapy's impact on maternal-fetal attachment in unplanned pregnancies. This field trial research was conducted at comprehensive health centers in Isfahan using convenient sampling method. The study consisted of two groups of mothers, each consisting of 33 individuals with unplanned pregnancies between 20 to 24 weeks. The experimental group received haptotherapy intervention for 10 weeks, while the control group received standard pregnancy care. For data collection the participants were given demographic and fertility questionnaire prior to the study, and Cranley's maternal-fetal attachment questionnaire both before and after the study. Moreover, T-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Chi-square test were used for data analysis. Prior to the intervention, there was no significant difference in the average maternal-fetal attachment scores between the experimental and control groups (P = 0.56). However, a significant increase became apparent after the intervention. The experimental group exhibited a significant improvement in the mean attachment scores compared to their pre-intervention levels (t=-9.20, P = 0<0.001). In contrast, the control group's score remained unchanged, with no significant difference observed (=1.69, P = 0.1). Haptotherapy has been found to enhance maternal-fetal attachment in mothers experiencing unplanned pregnancies. This valuable intervention is recommended as an innovative and secure approach in maternal health care services to help reduce the potential complications associated with such pregnancies.