Postpartum bonding and association with depressive symptoms and prenatal attachment in women with fear of birth

Abstract

Background Co-morbidity is prevalent in women with fear of birth. Depressive symptoms and lack of prenatal attachment might influence the postpartum bonding between the mother and the new-born. Aim To examine the underlying dimensions of the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire and to investigate associations between depressive symptoms, prenatal attachment and postpartum bonding in women with fear of birth. Methods A longitudinal study comprising 172 women with fear of birth. Data were collected by questionnaires in mid- and late pregnancy and two months after birth. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depressive Scale, Prenatal Attachment Inventory and Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire were investigated. Results Two factors of the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire were identified: Factor 1 mirrored caring activities and the women’s perceptions of motherhood, whereas Factor 2 reflected negative feelings towards the baby. The Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire was negatively correlated with the Prenatal Attachment Inventory and positively with The Edinburgh Postnatal Depressive Scale. Women with fear of birth and depressive symptoms both during pregnancy and postpartum showed the highest risk of impaired bonding after birth. Primiparity and being single were also associated with impaired bonding. Conclusion A focus on women’s mental health during pregnancy is necessary in order to avoid the negative effects of impaired bonding on the infant. Depressive symptoms could be concurrent with fear of birth and, therefore, it is important to determine both fear of birth and depressive symptoms in screening procedures during pregnancy. Caregivers who meet women during pregnancy need to acknowledge prenatal attachment and thereby influence adaptation to motherhood.

The effect of physical and emotional partner violence exerted during pregnancy on prenatal attachment and depression levels in pregnant women

“…It was found that, with increasing depression levels of pregnant women in the third trimester, prenatal attachment levels decreased (Tuncel & Süt, 2019). Similar studies have also reported that depressive symptoms negatively affect prenatal attachment (Berthelot et al, 2020;Hildingsson & Rubertsson, 2022).…”

“…Positive and negative emotions in the mother during pregnancy may affect prenatal attachment. Negative emotional states, such as depression during pregnancy, problematic dyadic relationships, and violent events, may negatively affect prenatal attachment (Berhelot et al., 2020; Hildingsson & Rubertsson, 2022; Sezgin & Özcan, 2020; Sheeba et al., 2022). Prenatal attachment is a special relationship that a mother establishes with her unborn child.…”

“…In a study examining the relationship between depression and loneliness during pregnancy and partner violence, 37.8% of pregnant women who experienced violence also experienced depression (Kapan & Yanıkkerem, 2016). It has been reported that 29.1%–35.7% of pregnant women who experienced partner violence had depression during pregnancy (Hildingsson & Rubertsson, 2022; Sheeba et al., 2022). Considering that the risk of many psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety, depression, psychosis, post‐traumatic stress disorder, and eating disorders, increases in women who experience violence regardless of the period of life, it is inevitable that the risk of depression is high in women who experience violence during pregnancy (Taşpınar et al., 2021).…”

Perceived Birth Trauma in Macedonian Women

“…Depressive symptoms could be concurrent with fear of birth and, therefore, it is important to determine both fear of birth and depressive symptoms in screening procedures during pregnancy. Caregivers who meet women during pregnancy need to acknowledge prenatal attachment and thereby influence adaptation to motherhood (Hildingsson I. et al, 2022). Although several studies have investigated the longstanding effects of maternal postpartum depression (PPD) on children's physical and neurodevelopment, no conclusive evidence has elucidated a relationship between maternal PPD and all four domains of child development -physical, neuromotor, language and general cognitive ability (Aoyagi SS.…”

Kesejahteraan Spiritual Mempengaruhi Kelekatan Ibu dan Janin pada Ibu Hamil

“…Kelekatan ibu dan janin sangat penting dalam pembentukan ikatan antara ibu dan bayi setelah lahir (Abasi et al, 2012). Penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kelekatan yang terbentuk selama periode prenatal dapat memprediksi perilaku ibu selama postpartum, bonding attachment dan memiliki peran penting dalam perilaku ibu dalam menjaga kesehatan selama hamil (Kohan, 2017;Hildingsson, 2022).…”