Because attachment doesn’t start at birth — and neither should support for it.
The Gap in Prenatal Attachment Support
Despite the huge importance of early bonding, there is currently no consistent, widely-used tool to assess and support parent–fetal attachment in the UK.
Most existing tools focus on postnatal attachment, starting too late for families who may already be struggling. And while some antenatal tools exist — like the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS) — they:
- Rely heavily on self-reporting
- Focus exclusively on mothers, excluding partners
- Can feel clinical, intrusive or emotionally loaded
- Are rarely used in frontline practice
As a result, many professionals are left without a practical way to explore prenatal bonding — even though the signs of connection (or disconnection) are often visible and deeply significant.
Why Pregnancy Bonding Matters
Bonding during pregnancy isn’t just about feeling excited — it’s about the emotional and behavioural bridge to parenthood. That’s why spotting early signs of low bonding matters.
Research shows that:
- Strong prenatal bonding predicts healthier parent–infant relationships after birth
- Parents who bond during pregnancy are more likely to talk to, touch and engage with their baby after birth
- Low attachment during pregnancy is linked to perinatal mental health issues, disrupted bonding, and early childhood developmental challenges
