Maternal-fetal attachment describes the emotional bond that typically develops between a pregnant woman and her unborn child. The strength of this bond is likely associated with the health or behavior of the mother and the well-being of the child, with higher levels of attachment generally resulting in greater degrees of postnatal bonding, noted Dr. John Coté and colleagues from Creighton University School of Medicine.

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Ultrasound exams are routinely performed during maternity care and showing these scans to mothers has been associated with increased maternal-fetal attachment, the authors continued. Preliminary studies have also suggested that the use of more advanced modalities could further increase attachment levels.

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To explore this possibility, Coté and colleagues conducted a randomized controlled trial in which they assessed maternal-fetal attachment levels in 96 pregnant women. All the women underwent an ultrasound exam during the third trimester of pregnancy.

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To create the 3D-printed models, the researchers extracted and processed ultrasound scans of the fetuses, converted the files into virtual 3D models, and then sent the 3D models to a 3D printer. The resulting fetal figurines served as representations of the fetus based on the ultrasound data and were not exact replicas.

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