Influence of prenatal childbirth fear on autonomic modulations and development of intervention methods for women with childbirth fear during the third trimester

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26463403
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Lifelong developmental nursing
• Research Institution: Akita University
• Principal Investigator: Kodama Hideya 秋田大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (30195747)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): NARITA Yoshimi 秋田大学, 医学系研究科, 講師 (80455881)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 出産不安 / 自律神経 / バイオフィードバック / 心的ストレス / 睡眠障害 / 慢性疲労感 / 妊娠末期

Outline of Final Research Achievements

ThThis study aimed to elucidate the effects of prenatal childbirth fear on resting autonomic modulation among low-risk pregnant women during the last trimester, and to validate the effects of heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback. We surveyed 97 low-risk pregnant women in their 32nd-34th week of gestation and measured childbirth fear and resting autonomic modulations. Women with moderate or severe childbirth fear were advised to practice HRV biofeedback at home for 3-4 weeks. High frequency power, an HRV parasympathetic modulation index, was significantly lower in women with severe childbirth fear than in those with moderate childbirth fear. Women practicing HRV biofeedback showed a significant reduction of W-DEQ but did not show significant influence on autonomic modulations, sleep quality and fatigue.

Free Research Field

産婦人科学、母性看護学