Effect of Guided Imagery on Maternal Fetal Attachment in Nulliparous Women with Unplanned Pregnancy

Background : Nulliparous women with unplanned pregnancy experience high levels of anxiety. Anxiety harm to maternal fetal attachment. This study aimed to determine effect of guided imagery on maternal fetal attachment in nulliparous women with unplanned pregnancy.Methods: In this clinical trial 67 nulliparous women randomly were divided to intervention and control groups. The research instruments were : Demographic, London, Cranley s maternal–fetal attachment scale, Dass 21. The intervention groupreceived one session guided imagery at week 34 and they did twice a week for two weeks of guided imagery at home. Maternal fetal attachment was evaluated before intervention and two week after intervention in week 36 .Data analyzed using SPSS 21 and t-test, paired t test, chi square , Fisher s exact test ,Mann-Whitney, was performed.Results: Mean scores of maternal fetal attachment in intervention group and control group the difference statistically was significant (p = 0.04). The mean difference score of maternal fetal attachment at the beginning and end of the study (week 36) in intervention groups and control group difference statistically was significant (p = 0.004).Discussion: The findings of this study exhibited that guided imagery promoted maternal- fetal attachment .Conclusion: In this study guided imagery training enhanced maternal-fetal attachment thus, it is enhanced maternal- fetal attachment recommended to consider guided imagery training during prenatal care, especially for women with unplanned pregnancy.

Keywords:

Pregnany , unplanned , guided imagery , Maternal fetal attachment.Financial support: Mashhad University of Medical Sciences