Investigation of the relationship between fear of birth and prenatal attachment in pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to examine the relationship between the fear of birth and level of prenatal attachment experienced by the pregnant women. METHODS: In our descriptive and relationship-seeking study conducted between January and March 2020 in Konya, 485 pregnant women who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Inclusion criteria for the study were women who were pregnant at the age of 18 years and above, having Turkish literacy, had spontaneous conception were over the 28th gestational week, having a healthy fetus, and not having any existing health problems (based on self-report). The data were collected with an information form, “Prenatal Attachment Inventory” and “Wijma Birth Expectation/Experience (Version A) Scale.” RESULTS: The mean score of the pregnant women from the “Prenatal Attachment Inventory” was 62.44 (21–84), and the mean score of the “Wijma Birth Expectation/Experience Scale/Version A” was found to be 59.45 (0–165). It was concluded that 47.2% of the pregnant women had low, 38.7% had moderate, and 14.1% had high levels of fear of birth. It was determined that there was a negative and weakly significant relationship between “Prenatal Attachment Inventory” and “Wijma Birth Expectation/Experience Scale/Version A” scores of pregnant women (r=-0.11 and p=0.23). CONCLUSION: In our study, it was determined that as the fear of birth increased, prenatal attachment levels decreased. Initiating and maintaining a healthy mother-infant bond is important for reducing fear of birth.