Maternal–fetal attachment and prenatal diagnosis of heart disease

Abstract Objective To 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 design Cohort 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). Results 197 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). Conclusion Diagnosis of fetal heart disease increases the level of maternal–fetal attachment.