Maternal-Fetal attachment in unplanned pregnancies following an antenatal training program: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: Women have less interaction with the fetus in unplanned pregnancies. This study aimed to determine the effect of an antenatal training program on maternal-fetal attachment in unplanned pregnancies. Methods: This single-blind clinical trial was performed in the north of Iran in 2019. By simple randomization, 76 mothers with unplanned pregnancies were allocated to the intervention and control groups. Mothers in the intervention group attended three sessions (90 minutes per session) of training based on interaction with the fetus in small groups. The control group only received routine care. Data collection instruments included a demographics checklist, London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy, and Cranley’s Maternal-Fetal Attachment scale. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square, Fisher’s Exact test, t-test, analysis of covariance, and multivariate analysis of variance were used for data analysis. Results: The mean difference of maternal-fetal attachment before and after training was 3.41±2.08 (P=0.112) in the intervention group and 3.96±2.17 (P=0.078) in the control group. However, the differences between and within groups were not significant. The differences in the subscales of attachment with the fetus were not also significant between the groups after the intervention. Although the post-intervention attachment score for unwanted pregnancy was lower than mistimed pregnancy in the intervention (mean difference: 14±3.61) and control groups (mean difference: 3.70±1.87), it was not significantly different based on the type of pregnancy between the groups. Conclusion: Maternal-fetal attachment training did not boost interaction with the fetus in mothers with unplanned pregnancies; thus, deeper psychological interventions are needed.

Keywords

• prenatal education
• object attachment
• maternal-fetal relations
• pregnancy
• unplanned