Educational workshops about bonding with the fetus during pregnancy: a clinical trial

Abstract

Objective: To verify if participation in educational workshops about bonding with the fetus influences the adoption of practices of interaction with the baby by pregnant women. Method: Randomized clinical trial conducted in a health clinic. The experimental group participated in educational workshops designed for the pregnant couple and the control group received usual care. The practices of interaction with the fetus were evaluated before and after the intervention. Results: 19 pregnant women participated in the study. There was a positive correlation between higher gestational age and the interaction with the fetus (p = 0.016), and between younger mothers and the practice of touching or poking the baby (p = 0.019). There was an increase in the interaction with the fetus in the control and experimental groups (p= 0.024). Conclusion: Educational workshops are strategies for sharing knowledge about fetuses' sensory skills and to foster bonding and child development since pregnancy.