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

Introduction: Anxiety is one of the psychological problems in pregnant women that sometimes takes the pathological form and affects the mental health of mother. This study was performed with aim to determine the effects of fetal movement counting on general health of mother. Methods: This Quasi-Experimental study was performed on 208 nulliparous women who were randomly divided into two groups. At 28 weeks of gestation, they completed the GHQ-28, then the intervention group started to count fetal movements from 28 to 37 weeks of gestation and the control group received routine care. Again, both groups completed the questionnaire at 37 weeks of gestation and the results were compared. Data analysis was performed with SPSS software (Version 16), t-test, paired-t, Chi Square and fisher Exact tests and PResults: Means scores of GHQ in intervention group at 28th and 37th of pregnancy were 23.52±10.23 and 21.09±10.12, respectively that the difference was significant (P=0.025). The means in control group were 23.69±9.43 and 23.88±8.60, respectively that the difference was not significant (P=0.52). In comparing the mean scores in two groups, it was found that the difference was not significant at 28 weeks of gestation (P=0.37), but it was significant in 37 weeks of gestation (P=0.002), and counting of fetal movements could improve the mental health of mothers compared to control group. There was no significant difference between two groups in the mean frequency of maternal concern about decreased fetal movement (P=0.36), hospitalization due to it (P=0.25) and the mean of gestational age at the time of decreased fetal movement (P=0.19). Conclusions: Counting of fetal movements by mother at 28 to 37 weeks of gestation improves the general health of mother.