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

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

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

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Maternal Behavior; Attachment
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Fetal movement and position tracking training

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 Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 85
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Kayseri̇, Turkey, 38280
    • Erciyes University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 19 years to 35 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

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 Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental Arms; 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.	Behavioral: Fetal movement and position tracking training; 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.
No Intervention: No İntervention Arms; Prenatal attachment scale answered. The pregnant women continued to their routine prenatal care. No intervention was applied to the pregnant women in addition to their routine prenatal care.The pregnant women were called about whether continuing their routine care or having any problems during the research. The mother attachment scale was answered at least 1 month after the birth of the women.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Prenatal attachment inventory (PAI)	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]	between 24-28 gestational weeks and after 30 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Maternal attachment inventory (MAI)	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.	1-6 months after birth

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: AYSUN BADEM
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Aysun BADEM, asst. prof., Erciyes University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 20, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 30, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): December 30, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 27, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 1, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): July 5, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 5, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 1, 2022
• Last Verified: July 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Pregnancy; Attachment; Maternal attachment
• Other Study ID Numbers: Maternal attachment

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No