A comparison of the mother-infant attachment in mothers with and without pregnancy related physical health conditions: An analysis of the growing up in Scotland cohort

Research has begun taking a holistic approach in understanding what factors may impact the mother-infant attachment, by considering the impact of pregnancy-related physical health conditions, and whether maternal mental health plays a role. This study tested the hypothesis that pregnancy-related physical health conditions - hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), preeclampsia, anaemia, and urinary tract infections (UTIs) - are associated with a perceived difficult mother-infant attachment in the first year of an infant’s life in a cohort of women recruited during pregnancy, compared to mothers without these conditions. It also investigated whether poor maternal mental health moderates these relationships. A retrospective analysis of a Scottish cohort database was conducted consisting of 4442 participants: HG ( n = 523) and non-HG group ( n = 3919); preeclampsia ( n = 636) and non-preeclampsia group ( n = 3806); anaemia ( n = 384) and non-anaemia group ( n = 4058); UTIs ( n = 227) and non-UTIs group ( n = 4215). Maternal mental health was significantly associated with the mother-infant attachment. Preeclampsia was the only condition (positively) associated with the mother-infant attachment. Poor maternal mental health in HG was significantly associated with a less positive mother-infant attachment. Experiencing additional physical health conditions during pregnancy does not necessarily equate to a less-than-optimal mother-infant attachment. Certain sub-groups (e.g. HG) are at an increased risk of less positive mother-infant attachments should they experience poor maternal mental health.