title: The Relationship between Gentle Tactile Stimulation on the Fetus and Its Temperament 3 Months after Birth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of gentle tactile stimulation on the fetus in its temperament 3 months after birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 302 mother-3-month-infant dyads enrolled the retrospective cohort study. 76 mothers had regular gentle tactile stimulation on the fetus in their pregnancy; 62 mothers had irregular tactile stimulation on the fetus, and the rest of 164 mothers who had no tactile stimulation served as nonexposure group. Temperament was assessed using the EITS (a nine-dimensional scale of temperament).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant difference in temperament type was found among infants in 3 groups at 3 months of age. In the regular practice group, the babies with easy type temperament accounted for 73.7%, which was higher than that in irregular practice group (53.2%, P = 0.012) and that in the control group (42.1%, P < 0.001). Compared to infants in no practice group, the infants who had received regular gentle tactile stimulation before birth were lower in negative mood (P = 0.047) while higher in adaptability (P < 0.001), approach (P = 0.001), and persistence (P = 0.001), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regular gentle tactile stimulation on fetus may promote the formation of easy type infant temperament.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University, 536 Changle Road, Shanghai 200040, China.
authors.forename: Zhe-Wei
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of MCH, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University, 536 Changle Road, Shanghai 200040, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.affiliation: Department of MCH, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University, 536 Changle Road, Shanghai 200040, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013694:Temperament / Q000502:physiology*; D014110:Touch