[Development of the maternal bond during pregnancy]

Formation of the maternal bond during pregnancy is an area of scientific interest explored very little so far. The interaction between mother and child during pregnancy is conceived with increasing frequency as a peculiar process of learning where the infant starts to develop his genetic predispositions. In this way it is possible to influence the further development of the infant during the first few months after delivery. The presented paper summarizes selected results of an empirical study implemented in 1996 to 1998. The group comprised 481 pregnant women with a permanent domicile in Brno. Within the framework of the project it proved possible to apply a previously elaborated scale for the assessment of the maternal bond during pregnancy. From the results ensues that a strong maternal bond is present during the seventh month of pregnancy in some two-thirds of women. The investigation was also concerned with cultural and situational factors which influence the formation of a strong bond to the child during pregnancy. It proved possible to test the effect of the style of the pregnant womans' mother during her childhood, the amount of experienced stress, the level of social support and the influence of the partner on the maternal bond of the pregnant women.