Pregnant Women’s Experiences, Attitudes, and Compliance with Practice of the Mindfetalness Method

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Assis. Prof. of Maternal and Neonatal Health Nursing, Tanta Faculty of Nursing

Abstract

Background: “Mindfetalness” method is a woman’s own assessment of fetal movements’ patterns, in a particular way, during a specific time. Aim: Evaluate pregnant women’s experiences, attitudes, and compliance with practice of the Mindfetalness method. Subjects and method: Design: A cross sectional research design. Setting: Antenatal follow-up clinics of Tanta University and El-Menshawy hospitals, Segar, Saied and Kohafa maternal child health centers Tanta Egypt. Subjects: A purposive sample of 150 pregnant women who fulfilled the inclusive criteria. Tools: Tool (I): A structured interview schedule of socio-demographic characteristics and obstetrics history. Tool (II): Experiences with practice of the Mindfetalness method (general and emotional experiences, compliance, and pregnancy outcomes). Tool (III): Apgar score scale. Tool (IV): Attitudes regarding the Mindfetalness method. Results: The results of the present study revealed that the method helped pregnant women to relax (91.3%), decreased worry about the fetus (90.7%), created a relationship and acquaintance with the fetus (88.7%, 73.3% respectively), 78.7% used the method daily, 72.7% had normal vaginal delivery, 86.0% had full term babies, and 76.7% had an Apgar score of 7–10, 86.0% had positive attitudes toward the Mindfetalness. Conclusion: Compliance with practice of the Mindfetalness method improved pregnant women’s general and emotional experiences and attitudes regarding the method, and encourages them to early seek antenatal care to manage any complication. Recommendations: Maternity nurses should teach pregnant women about the Mindfetalness method to improve pregnancy outcomes and decrease stillbirth and fetal morbidity and mortality rates. 

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