Generally, research on attachment tends to demonstrate a similar process for fathers as for mothers even though the pace may be different. Like mothers, fathers manifest
attachment behaviours during pregnancy. Indeed, Ferketich & Mercer (1995) found that the best predictor of early postnatal attachment for fathers is foetal attachment. During pregnancy, however, it is the mother who controls the father's access to the foetus. Thus, it is not surprising that foetal attachment for fathers has been found to be closely related to the quality of the marital relationship.