The Effect of Self-made Fetal Movement and Position Tracking During Pregnancy on Maternal Attachment
Condition: Maternal Behavior; Attachment
Study type: Interventional

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.
    

Intervention name(s): Fetal movement and position tracking training
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): 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.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care
Keywords: Attachment; Pregnancy; Maternal attachment