A study of the effect of training pregnant women about attachment skills on infants’ motor development indices at birth to four months

Abstract

Background. During pregnancy fetus-maternal attachment can improve maternal-fetal attachment, and have positive effects on the infant's growth and development. Objectives. This study aimed to investigate the effect of training pregnant mothers about attachment skills on infants' motor development indices at birth to four months. Material and methods. This study is a clinical trial with convenient sampling on 190 pregnant women in hafez hospital. They were randomly divided into two groups: intervention and control. There were 94 and 96 patients in the control and intervention groups, respectively. In the intervention group, 6 sessions of 90-minute educational classes were held. After birth, the infants were compared, in both groups, in terms of motor status using the Denver questionnaire at birth to the age of 4 months. Results. In the intervention group, educating the women on fetal-maternal attachment skills was associated with infants' earlier achievement age in terms of some gross motor, all fields of speech-language, and one item of fine-adaptive motor realms. In addition, the infants' age was significantly reduced in achieving some personal-social items, as well as gross-fine scope at one and three months. Conclusions. Training the mothers in attachment skills increased fetal-maternal attachment and improved the motor development indicators in infants aged up to four months. Therefore, training in attachment skills is recommended to be given as a component of routine pregnancy care.

The impact of paternal attachment training skills on the extent of maternal neonatal attachment in primiparous women: a clinical trial

“…researchers are emphasize on understanding nature and the necessity of security relationship between parents and children. other research in recent years has emphasized the importance of teaching parental affiliation and its impact on maternal-fetal attachment [35], reducing the mother's anxiety and increasing maternal-neonatal attachment [36,37] infant mental health [38], and development of the baby [39].…”

Concept Analysis of Maternal-Fetal Attachment

“…Several projects to explore the predicting factors of maternal-fetal attachment also have been found (Alhusen et al, 2012;Bielawska Batorowicz & Siddiqui, 2008;Doan & Zimerman, 2008;Maas et al, 2014). The impact of maternal-fetal attachment both on mother and infant have been highlighted in the literature, for instance, the effect on the maternal mood states (Van Den Bergh & Simons, 2009), the health practices during pregnancy (Abasi et al, 2013;Alhusen, 2008;Yarcheski et al, 2009), the mother-infant bonding (Busonera et al, 2017;Rossen et al, 2016), and the infant's outcome (Dokuhaki et al, 2017). The studies investigating other issues related to the concept of maternal-fetal attachment were also found (Alhusen, 2008;Dayton et al, 2010;Mehran et al, 2013;Sandbrook & Adamson-Macedo, 2004;Sedgmen et al, 2006).…”

“…This concept analysis has implications for nurses and midwives in the maternity unit, where part of their autonomy to provide antenatal care during the sensitive period. Since maternal-fetal attachment is essential for both mother and fetus during pregnancy and postpartum, nurses' and midwives' role cannot be ignored in alerting women during pregnancy (Dokuhaki et al, 2017). They can help mothers promoting attachment by discussing all the potential factors that may encourage them to attach with their unborn baby.…”

The seven-year epidemiological study of legal abortion caused by heart disease, blood disorders, diabetes and hypertension as referred to forensic medicine centers in Fars Province

“…They can be effective in providing spiritual and health advice (such as control of anxiety and negative thoughts and patterns of proper sleep, exercise and nutrition, relaxation exercise during pregnancy) and increasing the morale aspect of mothers. What is more, pregnancy education to parents can reduce maternal stress and transfer these pressures to other family members [56][57][58]. In addition, spirituality-centered counseling can be effective in controlling post-abortion depression in high-risk pregnancies and leading to its control.…”