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

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of two-dimensional (2DUS) compared to three-dimensional ultrasound (3 DUS) imaging on the maternal-fetal bonding process. Methods Fifty mothers who bad 2DUS and 50 who bad 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 bad 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 3D US 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 (c) 2005 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.