Maternal-fetal attachment in twin pregnancies.
OBJECTIVE
To describe maternal attachment to twin fetuses and determine whether such attachment differs between the twins.


METHODS
A descriptive, correlational, nonexperimental design was used to collect data on a convenience sample of high-risk and low-risk women pregnant with twins.


METHODS
Questionnaires were distributed or mailed by presidents of parents of multiples clubs to interested participants. Participants mailed the questionnaires back to the researcher via stamped return envelope.


METHODS
During a 14-month period, 214 eligible women from 41 states and the District of Columbia completed the survey instruments.


METHODS
The Prenatal Attachment Inventory.


RESULTS
Pregnant women reported greater attachment to Twin B than to Twin A.


CONCLUSIONS
Pregnant women may be more attached to Twin B (typically the nonpresenting fetus) because this twin may be easier to see and touch. While the mean attachment scores between twins differed, the size of the difference was small. Further study is needed to determine the predictive value and clinical significance of this finding for future mother-infant relationships.
Damato
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Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-4904, USA.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009769:Object Attachment; D009790:Occupations; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014427:Twins / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States