The effect of self-evaluation of foetal movement and position tracking on prenatal attachment and distress

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effect of self-evaluation of foetal movement and position tracking on prenatal attachment and distress.

METHODS

The study was a randomised controlled study . The study included women who came to the Kahramanmaraş Maternity and Children's Hospital for prenatal examination. The data were collected using a questionnaire form, the prenatal attachment inventory (PAI), and the Tilburg pregnancy distress scale (TPDS). The pregnant women in the intervention group were trained to count the foetal movements and track the position of the foetus. Data were evaluated using paired samples t-test, independent samples t-test, chi-square test, Pearson correlation analysis, and linear regression analysis. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under the process NCT05313113.

RESULTS

Although the mean PAI pre-test scores were similar in the intervention and control groups (t = -0.811; p = 0.420), a significant difference was observed in the mean post-test scores between the two groups (t = 6.404; p < 0.001). The mean TPDS pre-test scores were similar in both groups (t = 0.933; p = 0.453), but a significant difference was observed in the mean post-test scores (t = -3.345; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Thus, self-evaluation of foetal movement and foetal position tracking increased the prenatal attachment.

Perinatal Outcomes and Level of Labour Difficulty in Deliveries with Right and Left Foetal Position-A Preliminary Study

BACKGROUND

Many studies have shown the negative influence of the foetus's occiput posterior position during birth on the final perinatal outcome. This study aims to add to the discussion on the impact of foetus positioning on the course of labour and subjective assessment of the level of labour difficulty.

METHODS

The cross-sectional study took place from February 2020 to September 2021, and consisted of filling out observation forms and the assessment by the midwives and women of the level of labour difficulty. This study is based on the observation of 152 labours in low-risk women.

FINDINGS

When compared to left foetal positioning, labours in which the foetus was in the right position were longer and more frequently failed to progress (in 11.3% vs. 37.5%), and epidural was more frequently administrated (in 30.4% vs. 52.7%). Both women and midwives subjectively evaluated deliveries with a foetus in the right position as more difficult.

CONCLUSIONS

The right positioning of the foetus was related to greater labour difficulty and worse perinatal outcomes. The position of the foetus' head in relation to the pelvis should be considered as an indicator of the difficulty of labour and a support plan for the woman should be offered accordingly.

Influence of foetal position on the degree of isolated antenatal hydronephrosis

BACKGROUNDS

The effect of foetal position on the degree of antenatal hydronephrosis (ANH) is unknown. We hypothesized that foetal position is an important contextual factor in ANH, with consequences on prenatal counselling and postnatal management. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of foetal position on the degree of ANH.

METHODS

A retrospective study was carried out on consecutive pregnancies with isolated ANH over a 10-year period. Gestational age, foetal presentation (cephalic vs. breech), and degree of ANH (as measured by the AP diameter) were retrieved. Foetuses with other ultrasound findings of the renal tract (renal parenchymal abnormality, ureteric dilatation, or bladder abnormalities) were excluded. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between the anterior-posterior diameter (APD) and the mode of presentation (cephalic or breech). A P-value of <0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Initially 745 scans were identified, with 436 included in the final analysis. Overall, there was an association between foetal presentation and APD regardless of trimester, with cephalic presentations having a greater APD (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.11, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Cephalic presentations are associated with a significantly greater APD indicating that foetal position should be considered when stratifying ANH. Furthermore, foetal position may be a contributing factor in the mechanism of 'physiological' hydronephrosis.