Fetal Movement Counting and Maternal Depression: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

Background: The women in pregnancy and postpartum are susceptible to psychological problems such as anxiety and depression. Many studies conducted on postpartum depression, but few studies have examined the depression in pregnancy and have focused on ways to treat it. Objectives: The purpose of present study was to detect the fetal movement counting on depression of mother in the third trimester of pregnancy. Methods: In a Randomized controlled trial, 66 women with a singleton pregnancy and mild and moderate depression based on Beck Inventory Scale, were randomly allocated either to perform daily fetal movement counting from 28 week to 37 (n = 32) or control group (n = 34). Analysis was performed with SPSS 16 and a P 0.05 was considered significant. Results: In the intervention group, the mean of depression scores was 14.56 ± 4.66 at 28 weeks and 13.65 ± 4.00 at 37 weeks and the difference was significant. The mean difference was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.52 - 1.28, P 0.001). Also a significant difference was found in the control group between the 28 and 37 weeks of gestation with a mean difference of 0.32 (95% CI: 0.01 - 0.62, P 0.001). There was not a significant difference in the mean of depression scores between the intervention and control group at 28 weeks. Also the difference was not significant at 37 weeks of gestation. Conclusions: The level of depression was decreased at 37 weeks of gestation in the fetal movement counting and control group and the difference was not significant. The mother concern for reducing of fetal movements was similar in both groups.