• Child Health Nursing Research
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.370-378
• /
• 2008

Purposes: The purposes of this descriptive survey study were to describe levels of Maternal-Fetal Interaction Belief and Maternal-Fetal Interaction, and to define their correlation. Method: Data were collected from 273 pregnant women who visited one public health center and OB/GY clinic in Gangneung city. The instrument used for this study was a self-report questionnaire that included the Maternal-Fetal Interaction Belief scale(MFIBS) and maternal-fetal interaction. Results: The mean scores for maternal-fetal interaction belief and maternal-fetal interaction were $107.41{\pm}15.67$ and $31.75{\pm}5.92$ respectively. For maternal-fetal interaction belief, there were significant differences according to education, religion, income, feeding plan, marriage satisfaction, family support, and husband's love. For maternal-fetal interaction, there were significant differences according to mother's age, period of pregnancy, marriage satisfaction, family support, husband's love. There was a correlation between maternal-fetal interaction belief and maternal-fetal interaction. Conclusion: Maternal-fetal interaction belief is related to increase in maternal-fetal interaction and fetal development. It is essential to develop a maternal-fetal interaction program that includes maternal-fetal interaction belief.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.112-117
• /
• 1997

12-month-old Buldig and 3-year-old German Shepherd, treated with corticosteroids duringthe late pregnancy, were referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Chonnam National University, with chief complaints of vaginal discharge. Radiographic, ultrasonographic and surgical findings that obtained from each cases were as follows; case I: Radiographic findings were identified 2 fetuses that were normal skeleton, however, fetal viability could not be determined. Ultrasonographic findings were identified absence of fetal heartbeat and fetal movement, abnormal echogenicity of the abdominal visera, and echogenic materials remaining within the fetal fluid. After hysterotomy, macroscopic findings of uterus were liquefied materials remaining within the uterine lumen. Fetuses were excessively autolysis (falling off the hair, depression of the eye, and necrosis of the abdormal visera and skin). case II: Radiographic findings were identified irregular fetal structures and fetal movement, loss of recognizable fetal anatomy, dislocation of fetal veterbrae and echogenic materials remaining within the uterine lumen. After ovariohysterectomy, macroscopic finding of uterus and fetus were thickened uterine wall, yellowish-brown colored administration of corticosteroids during gestation should be contraindicated because fetal death is inducced. Ultrasonography has an advantage over radiography in that it permits evaluation of fetal viability.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.100-108
• /
• 2015

Purpose: Conventional methods for the prenatal detection of fetal RhD status involve invasive procedures such as fetal blood sampling and amniocentesis. The identification of cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) in maternal plasma creates the possibility of determining fetal RhD status by analyzing maternal plasma DNA. However, some technical problems still exist, especially the lack of a positive control marker for the presence of fetal DNA. Therefore, we assessed the feasibility and accuracy of fetal RHD genotyping incorporating the RASSF1A epigenetic fetal DNA marker from cffDNA in the maternal plasma of RhD-negative pregnant women in Korea. Materials and Methods: We analyzed maternal plasma from 41 pregnant women identified as RhD-negative by serological testing. Multiplex real-time PCR was performed by amplifying RHD exons 5 and 7 and the SRY gene, with RASSF1A being used as a gender-independent fetal epigenetic marker. The results were compared with those obtained by postnatal serological analysis of cord blood and gender identification. Results: Among the 41 fetuses, 37 were RhD-positive and 4 were RhD-negative according to the serological analysis of cord blood. There was 100% concordance between fetal RHD genotyping and serological cord blood results. Detection of the RASSF1A gene verified the presence of cffDNA, and the fetal SRY status was correctly detected in all 41 cases. Conclusion: Noninvasive fetal RHD genotyping with cffDNA incorporating RASSF1A is a feasible, reliable, and accurate method of determining fetal RhD status. It is an alternative to amniocentesis for the management of RhD-negative women and reduces the need for unnecessary RhIG prophylaxis.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers D
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.167-174
• /
• 2002

This study describes a fetal heart rate(FHR) estimation algorithm using phonogram. Using a phonogram amplifier, various fetal heart sounds are collected in a university hospital. The FHR estimation algorithms consists of a lowpass filter, decimation, envelop detection, pitch detection, and post-processing. The post-processing is the FHR decision procedure using all informations of fetal heart rates. Using the algorithm and other parameters of fetal heart sound, a fetal monitoring software was developed. This can display the original signals, the FFT spectra, FHR and its trajectory. Even though the fetal phonogram amplifier detects the fetal heart sounds well, the sound quality is not so good as the ultrasonography. In case of very week fetal heart sound, autocorrelation of it showed clear periodicity. But two main peaks in one period is an obstacle in pitch detection and peaks are not so vivid. The proposed FHR estimation algorithm showed very accurate and stable results. Since the developed software displays multiple parameters in real time and has convenient functions, it will be useful for the phonogram-style fetal monitoring device.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.276-283
• /
• 2011

Purpose: Prenatal depression is associated with potential negative consequences for the mother and infant. The purpose of this study was to examine pregnant women's stress, and depression and their impact on maternal-fetal attachment and fetal growth. Methods: Data were collected by means of a questionnaire and fetal sonogram from a convenience sample of 166 pregnant women. Results: Women who have a low educational level, poor health and are dissatisfied with their marriage showed low maternal-fetal attachment. Prenatal depression had significant correlations with length of pregnancy and level of stress. Even though correlation between maternal stress and fetal weight (r=-.15, p=.099) and correlation between maternal depression and maternal-fetal attachment (r=-.13, p=.095) were not statistically significant, the impact of the prenatal psychological state of mothers can not be ignored as it relates to fetal health. Conclusion: Maternal-fetal attachment and fetal growth can be affected by maternal emotional state, including stress or depression. These findings suggest that primary care nurses in hospitals and public health centers should provide prenatal depression screening and nursing intervention programs for management and prevention of prenatal stress and depression.

• Women's Health Nursing
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.55-65
• /
• 2023

Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread widely throughout the world, causing psychological problems such as fear, anxiety, and stress. During the COVID-19 pandemic, pregnant women have been concerned about both their own health and the health of their fetuses, and these concerns could negatively affect maternal-fetal attachment. Thus, this study aimed to explore the level of COVID-19 stress, resilience, and maternal-fetal attachment among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify factors influencing maternal-fetal attachment. Methods: In total, 118 pregnant women past 20 weeks gestation were recruited from two maternity clinics in Daegu, Korea, to participate in this descriptive correlational study during COVID-19. The factors influencing maternal-fetal attachment were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results: The mean scores for COVID-19 stress, resilience, and maternal-fetal attachment were 57.18±10.32 out of 84, 67.32±15.09 out of 100, and 77.23±9.00 out of 96, respectively. Nulliparous pregnant women reported greater maternal-fetal attachment than multiparous pregnant women (p=.003). Religious pregnant women also reported greater maternal-fetal attachment than non-religious pregnant women (p=.039). Resilience (β=.29, p=.002), COVID-19 stress (β=.20, p=.030) and parity (β=-.17, p=.047) were factors influencing maternal-fetal attachment, and these factors explained 26.4% of the variance in maternal-fetal attachment (F=10.12, p<.001). Conclusion: Converse to common sense, COVID-19 stress exerted a positive influence on maternal-fetal attachment in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare providers need to recognize the positive influence of COVID-19 stress and implement intervention strategies to strengthen resilience in pregnant women to improve maternal-fetal attachment.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers D
• /
• v.54 no.3
• /
• pp.198-205
• /
• 2005

In this paper, we proposed a new algorithm for the separation of fetal ECG from single channel abdominal ECG. The algorithm consists of a stage of demixing vector calculation for initial signal and a stage of fetal beat detection for the rest of signal. The demixing vector was obtained by applying independent component analysis technique to projected signals into time-frequency domain. For the test of this algorithm, simulation signals, De Lathauwer's data and some measured data, which was acquired from 8 healthy volunteers whose pregnant periods ranged from 22 weeks to 35 weeks and whose ages from 27 to 37, were used. For each data, the accuracy of fetal beat detection was $100\%$ and with the location of fetal beats, fetal heart rate variability and morphology could be offered. In conclusion, this proposed algorithm showed the possibility of fetal beat separation with a single channel abdominal ECG and it might be adopted to a fetal health monitoring system, by which a single channel abdominal ECG is acquired.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.287-296
• /
• 1997

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were daily performed on 8 bitches (5 Maltese and 3 Yorkshire terrier) from day 15 until parturition to determine the size of gestational structures. Gestational age was timed from the day of ovulation (day 0), which was estimated to occur when plasma progesterone concentration was first increased above 4.0 ng/ml. When the size of fetal and extra-fetal structures according to gestational age was measured, there was a difference between Maltese and Yorkshire terrier in extra-fetal structures (P<0.001), and no difference in fetal structrures (P<0.001). The correlations between the gestational age and the growth in fetal and extra-fetal structures were examined by regression analysis. The extra-fetal structure which showed high correlation from day 20 to 35 was inner chorionic cavity diameter in two breeds. The fetal structures which showed high correlation from day 36 until parturition was fetal head diameter in two breeds. In conclusions inner chorionic cavity diameter was the most accurate for estimation of gestational age and prediction of whelping day from day 20 to 35, and fetal head diameter from day 36 to parturitions respectively. Ultrasonography is very useful tool to evaluate the gestational age and to predict the whelping day in pet dogs.

• Child Health Nursing Research
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.416-426
• /
• 2007

The purposes of this descriptive survey study were to describe antenatal depression and level of mother-fetal interaction, and to assess mother's behavior and feeling during mother-fetal interaction, in order to develop a base for nursing intervention programs for mothers who have antenatal depression. Method: Data were collected from 174 pregnant women who visited one public health center and OBGY clinic in Gangneung city. The instrument used for this study was a self-report questionnaire to identify depression (BDI), and mother-fetal interaction. Results: Of the mothers 63.2% were in the normal range for antenatal depression, 21.3% in the mild group and 15.5% were in the moderate to severe group. For antenatal depression, there were significant differences among the income, planned pregnant, health status, marriage satisfaction, family support, husband's love. The mean for mother-fetal interaction was $29.88{\pm}4.91$. For mother-infant interaction, there were significant differences in education, income, pregnant number, delivery number, feeding plan, marriage satisfaction, family support, husband's love. There was a weak correlations between antenatal depression and mother-fetal interaction but it did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: Antenatal depression and mother-fetal interaction influence fetal development. It is essential to assess and provide immediate care to mothers who have antenatal depression and lower level mother-fetal Interaction.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
• /
• v.2 no.3
• /
• pp.9-15
• /
• 2009

During delivery, fetal death rate is about 1%. Since fetal death or infection have been continuously occurred, low cost fetal monitoring techniques are required. This study proposes an electronic stethoscope system for fetal phonogram by developing an amplifier to detect fetal movement and heart sound from abdomen of the pregnant woman. Using the electronic stethoscope, it is possible to listen or record the fetal sound and to analyze or store the digitized signal. Through the performance test using the developed system with 30 pregnant women in university hospital, it was found that the developed amplifier showed low noise, high performance. The system can detect heart sound and periods of heartbeats of a 22-week fetus.