Document Detail


Psychological and psychophysiological considerations regarding the maternal-fetal relationship.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20228872     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The earliest relationship does not begin with birth. Pregnant women construct mental representations of the fetus, and feelings of affiliation or "maternal-fetal attachment" generally increase over the course of gestation. While there is a fairly substantial literature on the development and moderation of psychological features of the maternal-fetal relationship, including the role of ultrasound imaging, relatively little is known about the manner in which maternal psychological functioning influences the fetus. Dispositional levels of maternal stress and anxiety are modestly associated with aspects of fetal heart rate and motor activity. Both induced maternal arousal and relaxation generate fairly immediate alterations to fetal neurobehaviors; the most consistently observed fetal response to changes in maternal psychological state involves suppression of motor activity. These effects may be mediated, in part, by an orienting response of the fetus to changes in the intrauterine environment. Conversely, there is evidence that fetal behaviors elicit maternal physiological responses. Integration of this finding into a more dynamic model of the maternal-fetal dyad, and implications for the postnatal relationship are discussed. Research on the period before birth affords tremendous opportunity for developmental scientists to advance understanding of the origins of human attachment.
Authors:
Janet A Dipietro
Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Infant and child development     Volume:  19     ISSN:  1522-7227     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2010  
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-7-13     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100887625     Medline TA:  Infant Child Dev     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  27-38     Citation Subset:  -    
Affiliation:
Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe St, E4531, Baltimore MD 21205.
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Descriptor/Qualifier:
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
R01 HD027592-17//NICHD NIH HHS

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