The Effects of Fetal Movement Counting on Mental Health of Mother in Third Trimester—A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Anxiety is one of the psychological problems in pregnant women that sometimes takes the form of pathological and affects the mental health of mother. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of fetal movement counting on mental health of mother. In a randomized-controlled trial, 208 nulliparous women were randomly divided into two groups. At 28th weeks, both groups completed the GHQ-28. Then the intervention group started to count fetal movements from 28th to 37th weeks of gestation and the control group received routine prenatal care. Again, both groups completed the questionnaire at 37 weeks' gestation and the results were compared. Analysis was performed by SPSS and a P value < 0.05 was considered significant. The mean scores of mental health of mothers in 28th and 37th of pregnancy was respectively 23.52 ± 10.23 and 21.09 ± 10.12 in the intervention group and the difference was significant (P = 0.025). The mean in the control group was 23.69 ± 9.43 and 23.88 ± 8.60 respectively, and the difference was not significant (P = 0.52). In comparing the mean scores between the two groups, it was found that the difference was not significant at 28th weeks of gestation (P = 0.37), but it was significant in 37th week (P = 0.002) and the counting of fetal movements could improve the mental health of mothers compared to control group.The women who had fetal movements counting at weeks 28 to 37 of gestation reported better mental health than the control group. The mother reported concerns about decreased fetal movement was similar in the two groups.