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Effects of ultrasound on maternal-fetal bonding: a comparison of two- and three-dimensional imaging

  1. E.-K. Ji1,
  2. D. H. Pretorius2,*,
  3. R. Newton6,
  4. K. Uyan5,
  5. A. D. Hull3,
  6. K. Hollenbach4,
  7. T. R. Nelson2

Article first published online: 22 APR 2005

DOI: 10.1002/uog.1896

Issue

Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology

Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology

Volume 25, Issue 5, pages 473–477, May 2005

Additional Information

How to Cite

Ji, E.-K., Pretorius, D. H., Newton, R., Uyan, K., Hull, A. D., Hollenbach, K. and Nelson, T. R. (2005), Effects of ultrasound on maternal-fetal bonding: a comparison of two- and three-dimensional imaging. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 25: 473–477. doi: 10.1002/uog.1896

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Radiology, CHA General Hospital, Pochon CHA University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

  2. 2

    Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, USA

  3. 3

    Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, USA

  4. 4

    Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, USA

  5. 5

    Department of University of California, San Diego, USA

  6. 6

    Department of St Vincent de Paul Village, San Diego, USA

*Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, 9300 Campus Point Dr., 7756, La Jolla, CA 92037-7756, USA.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 22 APR 2005
  2. Article first published online: 22 APR 2005
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 3 OCT 2004

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Keywords:

  • fetus;
  • maternal-fetal bonding;
  • three-dimensional;
  • ultrasonography

Abstract

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of two-dimensional (2DUS) compared to three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) imaging on the maternal-fetal bonding process.

Methods

Fifty mothers who had 2DUS and 50 who had 2DUS and 3DUS were included in the study. A postpartum survey by telephone interview was carried out to assess maternal-fetal bonding. Bonding was evaluated by analysis of extent of prenatal image sharing, maternal ability to form a mental picture of the baby and mother's comments about their ultrasound images. Data were analyzed using the independent t-test, Chi-square and Mann–Whitney U-tests.

Results

Mothers who received 3DUS showed their ultrasound images to more people (median, 27.5; interquartile range, 14.5–40.0) than mothers receiving 2DUS alone (median, 11.0; interquartile range, 5.0–25.5) (P < 0.001, Z = −3.539). Eighty-two percent of the subjects screened with 3DUS had a greater tendency to form a mental picture of the baby postexamination compared to 39% of the 2DUS subjects (P < 0.001, Z = −3.614). Mothers receiving a 3DUS study were more likely to receive comments on the similarities/differences of the neonate compared to those having 2DUS studies. Furthermore, 70% of the mothers receiving 3DUS felt they ‘knew’ the baby immediately after birth vs. 56% of the mothers receiving 2DUS (P = 0.009, Z = −2.613). Both 2DUS and 3DUS experiences were positive, however, the comments made by the mothers undergoing 3DUS (n = 18) were more exclamatory (amazed, wonderful, fabulous) than those undergoing 2DUS (n = 4). Patients having a 3DUS examination consistently scored higher than those having a 2DUS examination alone for all categories of maternal-fetal bonding.

Conclusion

3DUS appears to more positively influence the perceptions of mothers to their babies postbirth compared to 2DUS. Specifically, mothers who had 3DUS showed their ultrasound images to a greater number of people compared to mothers who had 2DUS alone and this may represent mother's social support system. 3DUS may have a greater impact on the maternal-fetal bonding process. Copyright © 2005 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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