Effect of three- vs four-dimensional ultrasonography on maternal attachment

Maternal attachment begins during early pregnancy with thoughts of and feelings for the unborn baby gradually increasing, and attachment intensifying in the first weeks after birth1. The maternal antenatal attachment scale (MAAS)2 was developed to assess maternal emotional attachment to the fetus, and the maternal–infant attachment (MIA) questionnaire3 to assess the attachment between mother and infant post-delivery. The MIA questionnaire has 19 items, is self-reported and has acceptable levels of internal consistency and test–retest reliability; it covers factors including quality of attachment, absence of hostility and pleasure in interaction2.