Several researchers have focused on the importance of
mothers’ work during pregnancy in preparation for becoming
a mother and variables influencing this transition.
Swedish mothers’ prenatal attachment to their unborn baby
predicted observed mother-infant relationships at 12 weeks
postpartum (Siddiqui & Hagglof, 2000). Mothers who
scored high on prenatal fantasy (thinking and daydreaming
about the baby) were more involved when interacting
with their infants. Mothers who scored high on prenatal
interaction and affection stimulated their 12-week-old infants
by using more proximal stimulation (touching and
kissing). Mothers who scored high on differentiation of self
with the unborn baby used more distal stimulation (maternal
vocalizing).