Antenatal depression and maternal-fetal attachment

Area of Science:

• Perinatal mental health
• Maternal-fetal relationship
• Psychological well-being during pregnancy

Background:

• Maternal mental health and the mother-child relationship are increasingly studied beyond the postpartum period, including during pregnancy.
• Previous research links maternal depression and attachment in late pregnancy and postpartum.
• This study uniquely investigates the maternal-fetal relationship in the first and second trimesters.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the maternal-fetal relationship during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy.
• To explore associations between maternal depression and antenatal maternal attachment in early gestation.

Main Methods:

• 216 pregnant women (3-6 months gestation) at Nagoya University Hospital participated.
• Data collected using Zung's Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS) and the Antenatal Maternal Attachment Scale (AMAS).
• A questionnaire on peripheral factors was also administered.

Main Results:

• No direct association was found between maternal depression and maternal-fetal attachment before the perception of fetal movement.
• This finding contrasts with studies focusing on later stages of pregnancy.

Conclusions:

• Maternal depression (ZSDS score mean: 41.9) was associated with education, employment status, pregnancy planning, and premenstrual mood changes.
• Antenatal maternal attachment (AMAS) was linked to employment, feelings about pregnancy, and support systems.
• These factors are relevant for understanding later maternal-fetal attachment and depression in perinatal and postnatal periods.