Prenatal diagnosis and maternal attachment to the child-to-be: A prospective study of 211 women undergoing prenatal diagnosis with amniocentesis or chorionic villi biopsy

The emotional engagement with the fetus and child-to-be among 211 women undergoing prenatal diagnosis by amniocentesis (group A) or chorionic villi biopsy (group V) was studied by questionnaires, interviews and the use of a visual analogue scale. The observation period lasted from the diagnostic test to 6 weeks after the women had received the result of this test.At the time of the test the women already demonstrated a considerable emotional attachment to the unborn child. This attachment grew (significantly) during the observation period in both groups. However, at the time of the last questionnaire and interview, the women in group A seemed to have reached a more intense bonding to the child-to-be, probably because of having advanced further in their pregnancy.Seventy-three percent of the women, however, reported that they withdrew their feelings for the child-to-be to some extent probably preparing themselves for a fancied loss of the fetus. However, this inhibition of feelings seemed to be temporary and did not inhibit a growing attachment to the child-to-be.A comparison of the women who underwent amniocentesis and those who had chorionic villi biopsy did not permit any general conclusion to be drawn about which method is to be preferred. The two methods seemed to be equal in most respects. The advantage of an early method seemed to be partly counteracted by the risk of spontaneous abortion attached to this method.