The effect of rhythmotherapy practices on fetal learning, prenatal attachment and prenatal stress

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rhythmotherapy intervention on fetal learning and fetal memory, prenatal attachment and prenatal stress in primigravidas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research is an experimental type randomised controlled study. The study has an experimental design with 3 groups (singing, xylophone, control) and the sample consists of 90 primigravida. The data collection phase lasted 10 weeks and the pregnant women received rhythmotherapy twice a week. A pre-test and post-test were applied to all groups. In the study, xylophone and singing groups performed rhythmotherapy. The control group rested. All groups were monitored for fetal movements and coded fetal movements as present/absent on the mobile application. The data were transferred to IBM SPSS Statistics 26 programme. RESULTS: The mean age of all pregnant women was 27.42±4.72 years. Prenatal distress scale pretest total scores for xylophone, song and control groups were 13.07±5.04, 12.57±6.55, 11.87±5.37 and posttest total scores were 8.00±3.01, 7.47±2.53, 10.37±4.14, respectively. Prenatal attachment inventory pretest total scores were 60,90±7,77, 61,17±7,79, 59,10±9,41 and posttest total scores were 78,70±2,26, 80,97±1,81, 73,60±3,94, respectively. Cronbach's alpha value was calculated for the scales. Prenatal distress scale (pre-test) was 0.780, (post-test) 0.610, Prenatal attachment inventory (pre-test) 0.790, (post-test) 0.705. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of the study, it was determined that rhythmotherapy intervention affected fetal learning and fetal memory development, and that fetuses were sensitive to rhythmic sounds but responded more to the mother's voice. Fetuses were found to have a fetal memory that lasted at least 1 week, and could be conditioned and habituated. Rhythmotherapy interventions increased prenatal attachment and decreased prenatal stress. Keywords: Rhythmotherapy, Fetal Learning, Prenatal Attachment, Prenatal Stress, Fetal Movement Tracking, Mobile Application, Nursing