How Does Listening to “Fetal Heartbeats” Affect the Feelings of Pregnant Women?

Authors

  • Mehmet Sinan Beksac Division of Perinatology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Liv Ankara Hospital, Istinye University, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6362-787X
  • Canan Unal Division of Perinatology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gazi Yasargil Hospital, Diyarbakir, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0881-2831
  • Burcu Yalaniz Division of Perinatology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4347-7023
  • Murat Cagan Division of Perinatology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Iskenderun State Hospital, Hatay, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0629-4401
  • Atakan Tanacan Division of Perinatology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8209-8248
  • Erdem Fadiloglu Division of Perinatology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7953-2517
  • Hanife Guler Donmez Hacettepe University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Ankarai Türkiye http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7413-4939

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21613/GORM.2023.1521

Keywords:

Colors, Fetal surveillance, Feelings, Figures, Non-stress test, Pregnancy

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of listening to fetal heartbeats (FHBs) on the feelings of normal and high-risk pregnancies (HRPs), and to learn the colors and geometrical figures representing their feelings.

STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study consisted of 291 pregnant women who applied for a non-stress test (NST). Participants were divided into two groups; 1: Normal pregnancies (Group1) and 2: HRPs (Group2). Demographic variables, feelings in response to listening to FHBs (negative, neutral, positive), grade mark (0-10) of feelings, color (warm, neutral, cold), and figure (simple, complex) preferences were retrospectively evaluated.

RESULTS: Of the 291 women, 172 (59.1%) Group 1 participants were compared to 119 (40.9%) Group 2 participants. Group 1 and Group 2 had similar feelings (p>0.05), however, the rate of negative feelings was higher in Group 2 (11.6% vs. 20.2%). Higher marks were observed in Group 2 with happiness and peace/relaxation after listening to FHBs. Fear was the lowest mark in women with positive/neutral feelings in both groups. Women in Group 1 preferred warm colors regardless of their feelings. Women in Group 2 who have positive feelings chose warm colors, whereas women who felt neutral or negative more commonly chose cold (55.5%) and neutral (41.7%) colors (p=0.017). Independent of feelings, simple figures were predominately preferred (p=0.04).

CONCLUSION: NST is more than a perinatal surveillance method and listening to FHBs has a positive impact on the feelings of pregnancies. Warm colors were commonly related to positive feelings. Simple figures were preferred regardless of feelings.

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Published

2024-08-25

How to Cite

1.
Beksac MS, Unal C, Yalaniz B, Cagan M, Tanacan A, Fadiloglu E, Donmez HG. How Does Listening to “Fetal Heartbeats” Affect the Feelings of Pregnant Women?. Gynecol Obstet Reprod Med [Internet]. 2024Aug.25 [cited 2024Sep.7];30(2):101-6. Available from: https://gorm.com.tr/index.php/GORM/article/view/1521

Issue

Vol. 30 No. 2 (2024)

Section

Obstetrics; Maternal Fetal Medicine and Perinatology

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Mehmet Sinan Beksac, Canan Unal, Burcu Yalaniz, Murat Cagan, Atakan Tanacan, Erdem Fadiloglu, Hanife Guler Donmez

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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