Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale Research Articles

Re-Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale in a Hungarian Sample

ObjectiveTo explore the factor structure of the Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale (MFAS) and investigate its psychosocial and demographic correlates in a Hungarian sample. DesignCross-sectional survey. SettingSonography clinic in a metropolitan area. ParticipantsOne hundred fourteen women over the age of 18 years in the second or third trimesters of pregnancy. MethodsParticipants completed the Hungarian version of the MFAS and provided information on demographic, socioeconomic, and pregnancy-related factors. ResultsThe internal consistency of the MFAS total scale was acceptable (Cronbach's alpha = .87). However, the reliability of the five subscales was low (alpha coefficients between .57 and .74), and the original five-factor model was not supported by the factor analyses. Married mothers had higher scores on the MFAS than participants who were unmarried, and uncertainty about the sex of the fetus was associated with lower attachment scores. Furthermore, gestational age showed a positive correlation with MFAS scores. No significant association was found between the total score on the MFAS and such factors as age, income, or education of the parents; whether the pregnancy was planned; method of conception; number of children born previously; prior perinatal losses; and circumstances of the mother's own birth. ConclusionOur study showed that marital status, uncertainty about the sex of the fetus, and gestational age were associated with maternal–fetal attachment; however, more detailed analysis was not possible because of the instability of the subscales of the instrument. Further research is warranted on the underlying factors related to maternal–fetal attachment.

Correlation of maternal-fetal attachment and health practices during pregnancy with neonatal outcomes.

IntroductionLow birth weight due to preterm delivery or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is the strongest factor contributing to prenatal, neonatal, and postnatal mortality. Maternal–fetal attachment plays a significant role in maternal and fetal health. Health practices performed by the mother during pregnancy constitute one of the factors that may affect neonatal outcomes. The present study was conducted to identify the relationship between maternal–fetal attachment and health practices during pregnancy with neonatal outcomes.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted on 315 pregnant women with a gestational age of 33–41 weeks who presented to hospitals in Sirjan (Iran) between December 2014 and February 2015. The data collection tools used included the Health Practices in Pregnancy Questionnaire and the Maternal Fetal Attachment Scale. Data were analyzed using IBM-SPSS version 20, focusing on the Pearson product–moment correlation and the logistic regression model. Statistical significance was set to p<0.05.ResultsThe mean score of maternal–fetal attachment was 60.34, and the mean score of health practices was 123.57. The mean birth weight of the neonates was 3052.38 g. Health practices (p<0.05, r=0.11) and maternal-fetal attachment (p<0.01, r=0.23) were positively and significantly correlated with neonatal outcomes. A significant positive relationship was also observed between maternal–fetal attachment and neonatal outcomes. No significant relationships were observed between health practices during pregnancy and neonatal outcomes.ConclusionMaternal-fetal attachment and health practices during pregnancy are positively and significantly correlated with neonatal outcomes.

The Effects of Pregnancy-Adaptation Training on Maternal-Fetal Attachment and Adaptation in Pregnant Women With a History of Baby Loss.

BackgroundStudies have shown that educating mothers can improve their adaptation to pregnancy and motherhood roles. There are also studies that have investigated the effects of certain interventions on maternal-fetal attachment. However, studies on the effects of maternal adaptation training on maternal-fetal attachment in mothers with a history of fetal or baby loss are rare.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the effects of a pregnancy adaptation training package on maternal-fetal attachment in pregnant women with a history of baby loss.Patients and MethodsThis quasi-experimental study was conducted on 60 pregnant women with previous fetal or neonatal death in 2014. The women were randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30). The pregnant women in the experimental group received routine prenatal education in addition to four sessions of a pregnancy adaption training package. The control group received only routine prenatal education. The data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, Cranley’s maternal-fetal attachment scale, and a prenatal self-evaluation questionnaire at the beginning and at the end of the study. The data analysis was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U, Wilcoxon, chi-square, Fisher’s exact, and spearman correlation coefficient tests.ResultsBefore the intervention, there were no statistically significant differences between the study and control groups in terms of maternal-fetal attachment (P = 0.280) and adaptation to pregnancy (P = 0.883). However, following the intervention, the mean score of the maternal-fetal attachment was significantly higher in the experimental group, when compared with the control (77.57 ± 7.23 vs. 61.53 ± 2.62; P = 0.001). In addition, the mean post-intervention adaptation to pregnancy score was significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group (118.89 ± 8.12 vs. 126.38 ± 4.17; P = 0.001).ConclusionsThe pregnancy adaptation training package increased the adaptation and maternal-fetal attachment scores in pregnant women with a history of baby loss.

The Hungarian adaptation and potential use of the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale questionnaire measuring mother-to-fetus attachment during ultrasound communication examinations

Research measuring the effectiveness of communication during ultrasound examinations draw attention to its use in strengthening the bond between mother and fetus. Hungarian adaptation of the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale, which is the most commonly used tool for measuring intrauterine attachment. 114 pregnant women in the second or third trimester filled out the Hungarian version of the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale and an application form. The questionnaire showed excellent internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.87 for the total score. Married women scored significantly higher and scores increased as pregnancy progressed. Uncertainty surrounding the fetus's gender influenced attachment in the negative direction. There was no significant relationship between attachment total scores and a number of psycho-social factors. In the family-centered prenatal care the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale is a suitable tool to analyze ultrasound screening situations that strengthen the bond between mother and fetus.

Influence of Perinatal Depression on Labor-Associated Fear and Emotional Attachment to the Child in High-Risk Pregnancies and the First Days After Delivery.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to analyze the influence of the level of perinatal depression on the labor-associated fear and emotional attachment of children born to women during high-risk pregnancies and in the first days after delivery.Material/Methods133 women aged between 16 and 45 years took part in the study. The first group included 63 pregnant women (mean age=28.59, SD=5.578) with a high-risk pregnancy (of maternal origin, for example, cardiologic disorders and diabetes). The second group included 70 women (mean age=27.94, SD=5.164) who were in the first days post-partum. Research methods included: Analysis of medical documentation; Clinical interview; the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS); the Questionnaire of Labor-Associated Anxiety (KLP), the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (MFAS).ResultsWomen after delivery displayed a higher level of concern for the child’s health and life when compared to the high-risk pregnancy group. The results indicated the appearance of a postnatal fear, the level of which is connected with the perception of the role of the mother. This fear is lower in women prior to childbirth than it is after. There has also been noted a statistically significant relationship between the appearance of depression and attachment to the child. Those women with depression show less attachment to their child than is the case for those who do not suffer from depression.ConclusionsThe appearance of a high level of depression amongst women from the high-risk pregnancy group during the first days post childbirth was accompanied by perinatal depression and a weaker attachment to the child.

Psychometric properties of a 20-item version of the Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale in a sample of Italian expectant women

Objectivethe Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale (MFAS), a 24-item self-report questionnaire to measure the antenatal maternal feeling towards the unborn baby, was introduced by Mecca Cranley in 1981. Despite the widespread use of the questionnaire in clinical and research contexts, issues exist about its psychometric properties. An analysis of the literature showed the need for studies aimed at reviewing the MFAS by eliminating some items and modifying and "modernising" others. This study started from these suggestions and aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of a modified 20-item Italian version of the scale. Designthe original MFAS was back translated and then administered to a pilot sample of 20 pregnant women in order to identify items hard to understand, inappropriate or ambiguous. On the basis of qualitative information derived from this pilot phase, we developed a 20-item Italian version of the MFAS that was later administered to a large sample of pregnant women. Settingantenatal education classes carried out in public and private structures of Italian central and insular regions. Participantsa sample of 482 women in middle and late pregnancy, attending antenatal education classes between February 2013 and October 2014. Measurementsthe modified MFAS was administered together with other scales measuring maternal–fetal attachment, psychological well-being, relational variables. Internal consistencies were evaluated using Cronbach׳s alpha. Nomological validity was assessed via Pearson correlations. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to test the factor structure. Findingsthe hypothesised relationships with external criteria were partially substantiated. Exploratory factor analyses suggested a three-dimensional structure. Confirmatory factor analyses provided general support for an oblique three-factor model. Internal consistency was adequate for the total scale and for two of the three subscales. Key conclusion and implications for practicethe 20-item Italian version of the MFAS is a reliable measure of maternal attachment to the fetus in Italian women. Cranley׳s five dimensions were not confirmed; instead, three factors emerged that could be renamed ׳Future parental roletaking׳, ׳Present interaction with the baby׳ and ׳Giving of self and responsibility to the unborn child׳. As maternal–fetal attachment is considered a predictor of the quality of the postnatal mother–child relationship, the MFAS could be a helpful tool in pre- and perinatal research and midwifery care to develop prevention programs based on women specific needs. Moreover, the availability of this questionnaire can assist in expanding research and in facilitating trans cultural comparison in issues related to pregnancy.

Apego Materno-Fetal e a Percepção Materna acerca da Capacidade Interativa do Bebê no Primeiro Mês

The mother’s perception about the infant´s interactive skills has been identified as a crucial factor for the establishment of appropriate interactive patterns between the mother-child dyad. The aim of this study was to examine the relations between maternal-fetal attachment and the mother’s perception about the infant´s interactive skills. The study included 64 mothers of boys who responded the Maternal-fetal Attachment Scale in the third trimester of pregnancy, and an interview about the experience of motherhood, during the infant’s first month of life. There was a positive correlation between maternal-fetal attachment and the general perception of the infant interactive skills (r=0,23; p<0,05). Regression analysis confirmed that maternal education and maternal-fetal attachment explained 12% of variance in the mother’s perception of the infant´s interactive skills. The relevance of the relationship between mother and fetus during pregnancy for mother-infant interaction in the postnatal period is discussed.

The effects of music listening on psychosocial stress and maternal–fetal attachment during pregnancy

ObjectiveWhile music listening has been studied as an intervention to help reduce anxiety in pregnant women, few studies have explored the effect of music listening on pregnancy-specific stress relief. This study examines the effects of music listening on psychosocial stress and maternal–fetal attachment during pregnancy. DesignA randomized controlled trial was implemented. A valid sample of 296 pregnant women in their second or third trimester was randomly distributed into an experimental group (n=145) and a control group (n=151). InterventionsThe experimental group received routine prenatal care and music listening. The control group received routine prenatal care only. Main outcome measuresData were collected using a demographic form, Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale (PSRS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale (MFAS). ResultsThe post-test results identified a significantly lower level of psychosocial stress in the experimental group than in the control group, particularly in terms of the stresses related to baby care and changing family relationships and to maternal role identification. However, no statistically significant differences in terms of perceived stress and maternal–fetal attachment were found between the post-test results of the two groups. ConclusionThis study provides evidence in support of using of music in interventions designed to relieve psychosocial stress in prenatal women.IRB approval number: ER98223

Maternal romantic attachment, and antenatal and postnatal mother–infant attachment in a sample of Polish women

In this exploratory study, we evaluated the relationship between a woman's self-reported romantic attachment style (as measured with The Attachment Styles Questionnaire), her experience of pregnancy, antenatal (The Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale) and postnatal (Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire) attachment with her baby, and depressive symptomatology (The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale). In the first stage of the study 162 pregnant females participated; of these, 64 were followed up in the second stage. The maternal romantic attachment style predicted attachment with the baby in the antenatal, but not in the postpartum period. The anxious-ambivalent romantic attachment style predicted more interaction with and attributing more characteristics to the foetus, secure attachment style was positively correlated with role taking, and avoidant—with attributing more characteristics to the foetus. In the postpartum period, the correlation between antenatal and postnatal attachment was only moderate; role taking during pregnancy correlated with anxiety about care for an infant. However, our study shows the association of the profile of anxious-ambivalent romantic attachment with postpartum depression, which heightens the risk of postnatal mother–infant bonding impairments.

Maternal emotional wellbeing over time and attachment to the fetus when a malformation is detected

ObjectivesTo explore women's emotional wellbeing and attachment to the fetus when informed during pregnancy of a fetal malformation. MethodsIn a longitudinal community-based study, 56 pregnant women with a detected fetal malformation and continued pregnancy were invited to complete questionnaires in mid-pregnancy, two months postpartum and one year postpartum. The questionnaire included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Cambridge Worry Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale. Socio-demographics and obstetric background data were also collected. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed. ResultsApproximately 84% returned the questionnaires and 37% of women in mid-pregnancy, 26.5% two months postpartum and 22% one year postpartum were found to have depressive symptoms. In mid-pregnancy 8.9% had thoughts of harming themselves, and almost all reported at least one major worry. Worry about the relationship with their husband or partner increased two months postpartum and one year postpartum. The means of both state and trait anxiety levels were high on all three measuring occasions and the mean score for maternal–fetal attachment was 3.7 (SD 0.67), indicating a high level of attachment. ConclusionThe results highlight the importance of adequate support when fetal malformations are detected on ultrasound examination.

The Relationship between Maternal-Fetal Attachment and Mother-Infant Attachment Behaviors in Primiparous Women Referring to Mashhad Health Care Centers

Background & aim: Mother-infant bonding and interactions after childbirth are shaped by maternal-fetal attachment during pregnancy. Although many studies have shown the positive correlation between maternal-fetal attachment and mother-infant attachment behaviors, some controversial studies have shown otherwise. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the correlation between maternal-fetal attachment and mother-infant attachment behaviors in primiparous women. Methods:This descriptive correlational study was conducted on 100 primiparous women, referring to the selected heath care centers of Mashhad. Data were collected using Cranley's maternal–fetal attachment scale, Avant’s mother-infant attachment tool, Edinburgh postnatal depression scale, and a demographic/obstetric questionnaire including demographic data, obstetric information, delivery outcomes, and postpartum data. Pregnant women with a gestational age of 35-41 weeks, who met the inclusion criteria, completed Cranley's questionnaire, as well as the demographic/obstetric questionnaire. Four and eight weeks after delivery, the subjects were asked to complete the Edinburgh questionnaire and postpartum information; then, they were asked to breastfeed their infants on a chair in a quiet place for 15 minutes. The researcher observed the mothers’ behaviors toward their neonates. For data analysis, descriptive and analytical tests were performed, using SPSS version 16. Results: There was a direct positive relationship between maternal-fetal attachment and mothers’ emotional behaviors toward infants four and eight weeks after delivery. However, four and eight weeks after childbirth, no significant correlation was found between maternal-fetal attachment and mothers’ caring behaviors. Conclusion: According to the findings, maternal-fetal attachment is one of the most important factors for mother-infant attachment. These findings could be applied for enriching mother-infant attachment behaviors during pregnancy.

Maternal–fetal attachment differentiates patterns of prenatal smoking and exposure

ObjectiveSmoking cessation during pregnancy may reflect altruistic motives on behalf of the unborn baby. We test the hypothesis that pregnancy quitters have higher maternal–fetal attachment than persistent smokers, and secondarily explore how maternal–fetal attachment differs among non-smokers, pregnancy quitters, and persistent smokers. MethodsParticipants were 156 women in the Behavior and Mood in Babies and Mothers study who provided report of smoking throughout pregnancy via timeline follow back interviews, with salivary cotinine confirmation of reported cessation at 30 and 35week gestation, and postpartum day one. Maternal Fetal Attachment Scale total and subscale scores (role-taking, differentiation of self from fetus, interaction with fetus, attributing characteristics to fetus, giving of self) were examined among non-smokers, pregnancy quitters, and persistent smokers. ResultsAt 30weeks, pregnancy quitters scored higher on the ‘giving of self’ subscale compared to persistent smokers (21.6±2.4 versus 19.9±2.9; p=.004). Maternal ‘giving of self’ also differentiated pregnancies exposed to cigarette smoking from those without exposure from 30weeks through delivery (19.9±2.9 versus 21.2±2.2; p=.002). Controlling for age, income, unemployment, gravida, and father's smoking status, ‘giving of self’ differentiated pregnancy quitters from persistent smokers [OR=5.144; 95% C.I. 1.509 – 17.538; B (SE)=1.638 (.626); p=.009]. ConclusionsWomen who reported a greater desire to maintain their personal health for the health of their fetus were more likely to quit smoking during pregnancy. Implications of findings for interventions and understanding mechanisms of risk are discussed.

Postpartum bonding: the role of perinatal depression, anxiety and maternal-fetal bonding during pregnancy.

Adverse effects of perinatal depression on the mother-child interaction are well documented; however, the influence of maternal-fetal bonding during pregnancy on postpartum bonding has not been clearly identified. The subject of this study was to investigate prospectively the influence of maternal-fetal bonding and perinatal symptoms of anxiety and depression on postpartum mother-infant bonding. Data from 80 women were analyzed for associations of symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as maternal bonding during pregnancy to maternal bonding in the postpartum period using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Pregnancy Related Anxiety Questionnaire (PRAQ-R), the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (MFAS) and the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ-16). Maternal education, MFAS, PRAQ-R, EPDS and STAI-T significantly correlated with the PBQ-16. In the final regression model, MFAS and EPDS postpartum remained significant predictors of postpartum bonding and explained 20.8% of the variance. The results support the hypothesized negative relationship between maternal-fetal bonding and postpartum maternal bonding impairment as well as the role of postpartum depressive symptoms. Early identification of bonding impairment during pregnancy and postpartum depression in mothers plays an important role for the prevention of potential bonding impairment in the early postpartum period.

Prenatal Attachment and Anxiety: Women Who Decide to Try in Vitro Fertilization and Women Who Procreate Naturally

Women who conceived after in vitro fertilization are emotionally vulnerable; they show high level of anxiety and distress compared with women who procreated naturally; level of anxiety seem to be related to their welfare and the fear of being separated from their son. Aims of this study are: to compare prenatal attachment and level of anxiety among women after IVF (in vitro fertilization) and women who conceived naturally; to identify predictors of attachment during pregnancy. We hypothesize: (1) a correlation between anxiety and maternal-fetal attachment in both groups; (2) the absence of a relationship between maternal age, waiting time to conception and maternal-fetal attachment in control group; and (3) a relationship between gestational age, waiting time to conception, fear of not being pregnant, and MFA (maternal-fetal attachment) in study group. The sample is made up of: control group of 48 women, aged between 18 and 41 years (24-37 gestational weeks); study group of 43 women aged between 21 and 42 years (23-37 weeks). They completed: MFAS (Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale), STAI (The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and a questionnaire to collect socio-demographic data. The results show that the fear of not getting pregnant is positively correlated with age and with high-risk pregnancy. In the study group, the interaction between gestational age and chronological age influences the state anxiety; the interaction between high-risk pregnancy and waiting period influences the MFAS, the state and trait anxiety. Implications of this study and directions for further research are discussed.

A experiência da gravidez: o corpo grávido, a relação com a mãe, a percepção de mudança e a relação com o bebé

Apresenta-se um estudo de exploração da experiência da gravidez que utiliza o Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale de Cranley (1981) para avaliar a relação mãe-bebé, e o Questionário de Avaliação da vivência da Gravidez (Meireles &amp; Costa, 2004) para avaliar a vivência do corpo grávido, a relação com a própria mãe e a percepção de mudança pessoal com a gravidez. Os resultados obtidos com uma amostra de 329 grávidas foram tratados em termos das diferenças quanto ao trimestre de gravidez, à paridade, ao estado civil, ao planeamento da gravidez e ao apoio social. Testou-se ainda a associação entre a relação mãe-bebé e a vivência da gravidez, encontrando-se uma correlação muito significativa entre estas dimensões, em que se destacam os valores obtidos em relação à vivência do corpo grávido, o que é discutido em termos do papel da vivência corporal na construção da identidade materna e na construção da relação mãe-bebé na gravidez, enfatizando-se as suas potencialidades em termos da intervenção psicológica.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v18i2.431

Maternal–fetal attachment and prenatal diagnosis of heart disease

ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that there are differences in the level of maternal–fetal attachment before and after fetal echocardiography in the presence or absence of cardiac abnormalities. Study designCohort study in which the mothers responded to a validated Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale. The study compared a group of pregnant women with diagnosis of fetal heart disease (FHD) with a group without this diagnosis (“no fetal heart disease” – NFHD). Results197 pregnant women were included, 96 FHD and 101 NFHD. Maternal–fetal attachment at the initial and final periods showed no significant baseline differences between groups (p=0.081). At the final period, migration from medium to high level of attachment was significantly higher in FHD (p=0.017). Transition from medium to high levels comparing the initial and final periods was more pronounced in FHD (p=0.009). ConclusionDiagnosis of fetal heart disease increases the level of maternal–fetal attachment.

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

Prenatal attachment (PA) is defined as the relationship that develops between a woman and her foetus. Three measurements exist for evaluating PA: the Maternal Foetal Attachment Scale (MFAS), the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS) and the Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI). Of these three, only the PAI has been used in French. The overall objective of the current study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of this second measure of PA: the MAAS. This scale was developed in 1993 by Condon. The MAAS is a 19-item self-report questionnaire which allows for calculating a total attachment score and two subscale scores; one score estimating the quality of the affective attachment experience and the other that estimates the intensity of concern about the foetus. For each item, the future mother provided an appreciation on a 5-point Likert scale (1=absence of feelings for the foetus; 5=very strong feelings for the foetus). The sample was composed of 117 primiparous French females (27.5 ± 4.27 years) in the third trimester of pregnancy (32.84 ± 3.77 weeks of amenorrhea). The study was carried out over a period of 5 months (January-May 2012). Each woman was asked to provide demographic data, a French version of the MAAS, a validated French version of the PAI, and a scale evaluating depressive symptoms (Edinburgh PostNatal Depression Scale, EPDS). The MAAS demonstrated moderately good psychometric properties. Condon's two-factor structure of MAAS was not supported in our sample. Four factors were identified with exploratory factor analysis. Internal consistency was satisfactory for the global scale and for the factor 1 but not sufficiently adequate for the other factors. Concurrent validity was indicated by moderate correlations between the global MAAS scores with the total PAI score. A weak but significant inverse correlation was found between the MAAS and the EPDS suggesting good divergent validity. The authors suggest that additional research be conducted on the measurement before confirming the validity of the French version.

Violence during pregnancy and its effects on mother–baby relationship during pregnancy

Background: Human beings have an innate need to form close emotional bonds with significant others. Objective: The purpose of this research was to study the effect of domestic violence during pregnancy in the mother–infant relationship. Method: 204 pregnant outpatients (of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the Hospital Pedro Hispano, Portugal) with a mean age of 29 and in their last 3 months of pregnancy were the participants of this study. To assess the violence level during pregnancy, we used the Conflict Tactic Scale 2. The mother–baby relationship was determined using the Maternal Foetal Attachment Scale and the Maternal Adjustment and Maternal Attitudes questionnaire. Results: In our work, we encountered 107 pregnant victims (52.4% of all outpatients) of domestic violence. The results showed that victims of domestic violence had a poor relationship with the foetus (M = 97.4, SD = 8.1), but not to the point of statistical significance. In these same patients, we also detected minor adjustments and attitude shifts towards pregnancy (M = 117, SD = 14.2) and this result was statistically significant when compared with women who did not experience domestic violence. Conclusion: Our results suggest that women who are victims of domestic violence are more likely to have a lower attachment with the foetus when compared with women who do not suffer domestic violence. Additionally, the victims showed more negative attitudes towards pregnancy and the foetus when compared to non-abused women.

Predictors of Sensitivity in Mothers of 8-Month-Old Infants

This longitudinal study investigated the impact of maternal mental health, including postpartum depression, and of maternal-fetal attachment, on maternal sensitivity when babies were eight months old. The study included 38 mother-infant dyads. The women answered the SRQ-20 and the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale in the third trimester of pregnancy, and the BDI, for evaluation of postpartum depression in the first month following birth. Maternal sensitivity was examined through an observation of mother-child interaction when babies were eight months old. The multiple regression model considering the three factors explained 18.6% of the variance in sensitivity, and only maternal-fetal attachment was a significant predictor. The results indicate the importance of interventions to promote the bond of pregnant women with their babies, which may even minimize possible harmful effects of postpartum depression on mother-child interaction.

The Relationship Between Maternal–Fetal Attachment and Cigarette Smoking Over Pregnancy

Cigarette smoking during pregnancy is one of the most preventable causes of infant morbidity and mortality, yet 80 % of women who smoked prior to pregnancy continue to smoke during pregnancy. Past studies have found that lower maternal-fetal attachment predicts smoking status in pregnancy, yet past research has not examined whether maternal-fetal attachment predicts patterns or quantity of smoking among pregnant smokers. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between maternal-fetal attachment and patterns of maternal smoking among pregnant smokers. We used self-reported and biochemical markers of cigarette smoking in order to better understand how maternal-fetal attachment relates to the degree of fetal exposure to nicotine. Fifty-eight pregnant smokers participated in the current study. Women completed the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale, reported weekly smoking behaviors throughout pregnancy using the Timeline Follow Back interview, and provided a saliva sample at 30 and 35 weeks gestation and 1 day postpartum to measure salivary cotinine concentrations. Lower maternal-fetal attachment scores were associated with higher salivary cotinine at 30 weeks gestation and 1 day postpartum. As well, women who reported lower fetal attachment reported smoking a greater maximum number of cigarettes per day, on average, over pregnancy. Lower maternal-fetal attachment is associated with greater smoking in pregnancy. Future research might explore whether successful smoking cessation programs improve maternal assessments of attachment to their infants.