The Effect of Self-made Fetal Movement and Position Tracking During Pregnancy on Maternal Attachment

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Attachment; Maternal Behavior
• Interventions: Behavioral: Fetal movement and position tracking training

• Registration Number: NCT05443152
• Lead Sponsor: AYSUN BADEM

Brief Summary

This study was conducted to determine the effect of self-made fetal movement counting and fetal position tracking on maternal attachment in prenatal period.

Detailed Description

The first attachment between mother and baby begins in the prenatal period. It is expected to increase as pregnancy progresses.The more the mother tries to communicate and interact with her baby, the stronger her attachment to her baby. The baby can be accepted by the mother as an individual, and the attachment between the mother and baby can increase.The early development of safe and positive attachment composes the basis of healthy development. In the later years of childhood, safe attachment is effective on healthy processes, such as being more positive, establishing close, constructive and respectful relationships, and a high sense of trust, while unsafe attachment is associated with emotional, social, physical and mental psychopathologies. The mother's touching her baby over her abdomen, trying to guess the parts of the baby, following baby movements, communicating with the baby by focusing and spending private time with the baby increase the physical and psychological contact with the baby. Fetal movement counting is defined as tracking uninterrupted fetal movements for at least 15-20 minutes by lying on the left side in a calm environment at any time during the day when this baby is awake. Fetal position tracking is described as trying to guess the parts of the baby by placing the mother's hand on the abdomen. In the literature, it is stated that prenatal attachment affects postpartum maternal attachment, contributes positively to infant care and provides rapid adaptation to motherhood. In addition, secure/insecure attachment styles are thought to be associated with postpartum depression. It is stated that the babies of mothers with strong prenatal attachment show healthier growth and development and even affect their personality positively in adulthood. In the literature, it is stated that the prenatal period can be an indicator of mother-infant interaction in the postpartum period.This study was carried out as a continuation of the previous study, NCT05313113 Clinical ID, to determine maternal attachment in the postpartum period of pregnant women whose fetal movement and position were followed.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2020-05-20
• Primary Completion: 2020-09-30
• Study Completion: 2020-12-30
• Study First Submitted: 2022-06-27
• Status Verified: 2022-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-07-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-07-01
• Study First Posted: 2022-07-05
• Last Update Posted: 2022-07-05

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 85

Inclusion Criteria

• literate
• between the ages of 19-35
• Effective communication
• first pregnancy
• having a single fetus
• Pregnancy week between 24 and 28. between the ages of 19-35
• Effective communication
• first pregnancy
• having a single fetus
• Pregnancy week between 24 and 28.

Exclusion Criteria

• Pregnancy using assisted reproductive techniques
• Having a risky pregnancy (preeclampsia, placenta previa, gestational diabetes etc.)
• Pregnant women with a chronic disease (heart, systemic, circulatory disorder, psychiatric, etc.) were not included in the study.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Experimental Arms	Fetal movement and position tracking training	Prenatal attachment scale answered. In the first stage, pregnant women were trained to implement fetal movement count and position tracking. The training was provided face to face and lasted 30-45 minutes. How to determine the position of the fetus and I. and II. Leopold maneuvers are also taught. In the second stage, the pregnant women were interviewed twice a week by telephone.Thus, it was provided that pregnant women had fetal tracked at least once a day, at any time of the day, when the fetus was awake and most active, in a suitable position and a comfortable environment, for at least 15-20 minutes continuously for four weeks. Pregnant women phoned the researcher when they wanted. At the same time, the participants continued to their routine prenatal care. The mother attachment scale was answered at least 1 month after the birth of the women.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Prenatal attachment inventory (PAI)	between 24-28 gestational weeks and after 30 days	The mean prenatal attachment level (mean±SD) The mean prenatal attachment was assessed using ''Prenatal attachment inventory''. The inventory consists of 21 Likert-type items. Each item is scored between 1 and 4. Therefore, the minimum score of the inventory is 21, while the maximum score of the inventory is 84. The pregnant between 24-28 gestational weeks were filled with face-to-face interviews at the first interview and 30 days after the training. \[Time Frame: between 24-28 gestational weeks and after 30 days\]

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Maternal attachment inventory (MAI)	1-6 months after birth	The mean maternal attachment was assessed using ''Maternal attachment inventory (MAI)''. The inventory consists of 26 Likert-type items. Each item is scored between 1 and 4. Therefore, the minimum score of the inventory is 26, while the maximum score of the inventory is 104. A high score indicates high maternal attachment. The scale can be applied between 1 month and 24 months postpartum. The scale was answered via telephone.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Erciyes University; 🇹🇷 Kayseri̇, Turkey