...as the complex emotional internal image of the unborn baby, that the mother acquires and increments throughout the pregnancy (Rapheal-Leff, 1986; Righetti, 1996; Righetti & Sette, 2000; Stainton, 1985).

Cranley (1981) describes the nature of mother's experiences as 'physical and kinesthetic awareness of the fetus', and an 'intellectual knowledge of her child'. Nowadays, the concept of antenatal/prenatal attachment is more accurately defined (Righetti, 2003) and it generally refers to the maternal-fetal relationship, which normally develops during the pregnancy; it represents the earlier internalized representation of the fetus that both parents typically acquire and elaborate. Condon (1993) suggests a way of understanding attachment in terms of quality of the affective experiences (closeness/distance, tenderness/irritation, pleasure in interaction, distress at fantasized loss, and conceptualization of the fetus as a 'little person') and intensity of preoccupation (amount of time spent thinking about, talking to, dreaming about or palpating the fetus).

Researchers have demonstrated that prenatal attachment develops regardless of maternal age (Bloom, 1995), although at mid-pregnancy women aged over 35 show significantly lower prenatal attachment scores. Furthermore, no significant differences are found in prenatal attachment levels between primiparous and multiparous groups of women (Condon & Esuvaranathan, 1990).

The favourable prospective use of antenatal attachment is underlined by Condon's statements (1997): 'Maternal-foetal attachment is of a potential significance from both theoretical and clinical perspectives. It represents the development of the earliest, most basic form of human intimacy involving an object characterized by a curious admixture of fantasy and reality.' (p.361)

Pregnancy can also represent a crisis period for many women, with manifest effect on antenatal attachment. Condon and Corkindale (1997) explore the hypothesis that feelings of anxiety or depression and lack of social support would be an interference issue in the development of maternal antenatal attachment. Women characterized by low attachment are associated with high levels of depression and anxiety, weak external social support, and high control and criticism in the partner relationship. From a clinical perspective, the incidence and the implication of low levels of prenatal attachment are also investigated; approximately 8% of women develop minimal attachment to their unborn child (Condon, 1986; Condon, 1987). Pollock and Percy (1999) found an association between the low attachment group and self-reported risk to the fetus and dimension of personality disorder. Thus, it seems not implausible that the antenatal attachment may be of critical importance for the early mother-infant relationships. Maternal feelings and sensitivity towards her child develop along a continuum throughout pregnancy (Leifer, 1997), and a loving relationship with the fetus would continue to be a good, sensitive interaction postnatally. In a study of 100 pregnant mothers, Siddiqui and Hagglof (2000) indicate that mothers who experienced greater affection during pregnancy and fantasized more about the unborn babies at about 12 weeks postpartum, showed more overall involvement during interaction, in particular in stimulating their infants. Consequently, interventions which result...

NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.



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