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.

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.

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.