This longitudinal cohort correlational study aimed to confirm the relation among taekyo or traditional prenatal practice, prenatal depression, postpartum depression, maternal-fetal interaction, and infant temperament and colic using a prospective design. We recruited 212 women 16-20 weeks pregnant from July 2017 to September 2018; they were followed up until six months postpartum. Data from 97 participants were used in the final analysis. We used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Cranley's Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale, and What My Baby Is Like as measurement tools. We observed a significant correlation between prenatal maternal depression in the first to third trimesters and 6-8 weeks and six months postpartum. In addition, infant temperament at six months old showed a significant negative correlation with prenatal and postpartum depression: the higher the prenatal and postpartum depression level, the more difficult the infant's temperament. Taekyo practice was significantly related to maternal-fetal attachment (r = 0.45-0.68, p < 0.001). Difficult infants showed more colic episodes than any other type of infant (χ2 = 18.18, p < 0.001). Prenatal and postnatal maternal depression affected infants' temperament and colic episodes. The management of mothers' mental health before and after pregnancy is important for infants' and mothers' health.
Keywords: colic; depression; infant; maternal–fetal relations; taekyo; temperament.