PURPOSE: Prenatal depression is associated with potential negative consequences for the mother and infant. The purpose of this study was to examine pregnant women's stress, and depression and their impact on maternal-fetal attachment and fetal growth. METHODS: Data were collected by means of a questionnaire and fetal sonogram from a convenience sample of 166 pregnant women. RESULTS: Women who have a low educational level, poor health and are dissatisfied with their marriage showed low maternal-fetal attachment. Prenatal depression had significant correlations with length of pregnancy and level of stress. Even though correlation between maternal stress and fetal weight (r=-.15, p=.099) and correlation between maternal depression and maternal-fetal attachment (r=-.13, p=.095) were not statistically significant, the impact of the prenatal psychological state of mothers can not be ignored as it relates to fetal health. CONCLUSION: Maternal-fetal attachment and fetal growth can be affected by maternal emotional state, including stress or depression. These findings suggest that primary care nurses in hospitals and public health centers should provide prenatal depression screening and nursing intervention programs for management and prevention of prenatal stress and depression.
*Depression ; Female ; Fetal Development/*physiology ; Health Status ; Humans ; Maternal-Fetal Relations/psychology ; Mothers/*psychology ; Pregnancy ; Questionnaires ; *Stress, Psychological ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of a Taegyo program on parents-fetal attachment and parenthood in first pregnancy couples (mothers and spouses). METHODS: The research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest experiment. Study participants were 52 first pregnancy couples visiting two medium-scale obstetrics and gynecology clinics located in Gwangju. A total of 52 couples were assigned to the experimental group (25 couples) and the control group (27 couples). The experimental couples were provided with a Taegyo program for 4 weeks. Data were analyzed by chi square test, t-test, and ANCOVA using the SPSS program. RESULTS: Post-treatment maternal-fetal attachment, paternal-fetal attachment and motherhood significantly increased in the experimental group as compared to the control group, but post-treatment fatherhood, anxiety, blood pressure and pulse of participants in the experimental group showed no significant difference from those in the control group. CONCLUSION: From these results, it is suggested that the Taegyo program has beneficial effects in enhancing parent-fetal attachment and motherhood in first pregnancy couples. Therefore, a Taegyo program can be recommended as a nursing intervention program for first pregnancy couples.
Adult ; Anxiety ; Blood Pressure ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Maternal-Fetal Relations ; Mothers/*psychology ; Parents/*psychology ; *Patient Education as Topic ; Pregnancy

In medicine, it is the physician's obligation to promote and protect the patient's interest. In obstetrics, the ethical principles of beneficence and autonomy provide the fundamental framework which guides the management of all pregnant patients. As there is the need for consideration of the fetus, autonomy can become a complex issue giving rise to what is sometimes called "maternal-fetal conflict." In this paper, we aim to discuss some scenarios we encounter in our day-to-day obstetric practice such as pre-eclampsia, fetal growth restriction and labour induction when the best interests of the mother and fetus may be conflicted. We hope to illustrate that logical consideration for maternal and fetal best interests is only possible when there is adequate knowledge to support clinical practice. Certainly, with the rapid availability of newer knowledge and technology, it is the duty of the physician to be educated continuously so as to protect the patient from harm.
Beneficence ; Clinical Competence ; Conflict (Psychology) ; Ethics, Medical ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Fetus ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Maternal Welfare ; Maternal-Fetal Relations ; Obstetrics ; ethics ; methods ; Patient Care ; ethics ; Patient Rights ; Personal Autonomy ; Physician-Patient Relations ; ethics ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Prenatal Diagnosis

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of Taegyo-focused prenatal classes on maternal-fetal attachment and self-efficacy related to childbirth. METHODS: Over 4 weeks, 49 women, 20 to 36 weeks of gestation participated in a prenatal program led by the nurse who developed it. In addition to Lamaze content it included; understanding ability of fetus to respond, sharing motivation, purpose of pregnancy, and preconceptions of experiencing childbirth, training in maternal- fetal interaction, writing letters and making a declaration of love to unborn baby. Using a pre- experimental design, data were collected by self-report, before and after program, using Cranley's Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (1981), and Shin's (1997) Labor Self-Efficacy Measurement. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Paired t-test showed significant changes in scores of maternal-fetal attachment (t=6.91. p<.001) and self-efficacy related to childbirth (t=10.19, p<.001). Taegyo opens the possibility of integrating Western ideas with Korean traditional health behavior. Incorporation of Taegyo into existing prenatal classes is recommended.
Adult ; Attitude to Health/ethnology ; Curriculum ; Female ; Health Education/organization & administration ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Love ; Maternal-Child Nursing/organization & administration ; Maternal-Fetal Relations/*ethnology ; *Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; *Mothers/education/psychology ; Motivation ; Nurse Midwives/organization & administration ; Nursing Evaluation Research ; Nursing Methodology Research ; Object Attachment ; Parturition/*ethnology ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Care/*organization & administration ; Program Evaluation ; Questionnaires ; *Self Efficacy ; Writing