The effect of haptonomy and lullaby practices on birth fear and prenatal bonding in primiparous pregnant women

This study was conducted to examine the effects of haptonomy and lullaby practices on childbirth fear and prenatal attachment among primiparous pregnant women. The research employed a randomized controlled pretest–posttest design and was carried out between July and December 2024 at the Pregnancy School affiliated with the Batman Provincial Health Directorate. The sample consisted of 105 primiparous women between the 24th and 32nd weeks of pregnancy. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: control group (n=35), haptonomy group (n=35), and haptonomy+lullaby group (n=35). Data were collected using the Socio-demographic Data Form, Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire Version A (W-DEQ A), and the Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI). Data analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0 software, employing descriptive statistics, paired and independent sample t-tests, ANOVA, ANCOVA, and post-hoc analyses. Initially, participants in the haptonomy group were administered the Socio-Demographic Data Questionnaire, the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ), and the Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI). Following this, a five-session haptonomy program was conducted once a week, with each session lasting at least 30 minutes. After the intervention, the same measurement tools were administered as a post-test. Participants in the haptonomy and lullaby group were given the same pre-tests, and the sessions began with the listening of a lullaby. The sessions were carried out face-to-face once a week for five weeks, each lasting at least 30 minutes, and the same instruments were applied again as a post-test. In the control group, participants completed only the pre-test and post-test after five weeks; no intervention was performed, and levels of childbirth fear and prenatal attachment were evaluated According to the findings, there were no significant differences among the groups in pretest PAI and W-DEQ scores (p>0.05). Following the interventions, a statistically significant increase in prenatal attachment scores (p<0.001) and a significant decrease in childbirth fear scores (p<0.001) were observed in both the haptonomy and haptonomy+lullaby groups. No significant change was found in the control group. Between-group comparisons indicated that the haptonomy+lullaby intervention enhanced prenatal attachment and reduced childbirth fear more effectively than haptonomy alone. In conclusion, haptonomy and lullaby practices were found to be effective in reducing childbirth fear and strengthening prenatal attachment among primiparous women. Therefore, it is recommended that these practices be integrated into midwifery and antenatal care programs as part of a holistic care approach.