Publication year
2010
Citation Title
Mindfulness-based childbirth and parenting education: Promoting family mindfulness during the perinatal period
Journal Name
Journal of Child and Family Studies
Journal Volume
19
Issue Number
2
Page Numbers
190-202
DOI
10.1007/s10826-009-9313-7
Summary
Many women participate in childbirth and parenting classes while they are pregnant. In this study, researchers evaluated the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based childbirth and parenting education program. Results indicated that participation in the program was associated with positive changes for women.
Key Findings
Pregnancy anxiety significantly decreased after participation in the program.
Mindfulness, particularly non-reactivity, and positive emotions significantly increased after participation in the program.
Learning to stay in the present moment was the practice learned in the program that mothers used most during labor and delivery.
Mothers noted that bringing mindful awareness to interactions with their spouse and their baby and to their own emotional reactivity were very beneficial.
Implications for Military Professionals
Encourage pregnant women to develop the ability to stay in the present moment so that they can use that skill during labor and delivery
Help to prepare pregnant women and their spouses for the changes that will occur in their relationship after childbirth
Implications for Program Leaders
Incorporate mindfulness into prenatal childbirth and parenting classes for military parents
Offer workshops for expectant parents to learn skills to cope with anxiety about pregnancy
Implications for Policy Makers
Recommend training for professionals who work with military families regarding unique factors that may influence military families during pregnancy and childbirth (e.g., spousal separation due to deployment)
Encourage collaboration between community-based programs and military programs in order to fully support military families who are preparing for the birth of a child
Methods
Participants decided to participate in a mindfulness-based childbirth and parenting program.
The women completed questionnaires measuring pregnancy anxiety, stress, emotions, mindfulness, coping, and depression before and after the program and participated in structured interviews after the program.
Data were analyzed to determine if there were changes from before to after participation in the program and coded interviews to identify themes.
Participants
Participants were 35 pregnant women in the end of their second trimester or beginning of their third trimester.
The women’s average age was 34.6 years old (SD = 4.22). Most (93%) were first-time parents.
Most (70%) participants reported experiencing a major stressful life event during pregnancy.
Women were White (88%), Asian-American (4%), Latina (4%), or another race (4%).
Limitations
There was no control group included in this study, so it is unclear whether the findings are due to the intervention itself.
Most of the women were first-time parents; results may not extend to women who are already parents.
Women opted in to the study because they wanted to participate in the mindfulness-based parenting education program. These women may differ from women who did not participate in important ways that may influence results.
Avenues for Future Research
Compare outcomes of women who participate in a mindfulness based childbirth and parenting class to those of women experiencing in a class without mindfulness or women not participating in a class
Include mothers who are already parents
Examine the influence of stressful life events on women’s outcomes
Focus
Civilian
Target Population
Population Focus
Abstract
We present the conceptual and empirical foundation and curriculum content of the Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) program and the results of a pilot study of n = 27 pregnant women participating in MBCP during their third trimester of pregnancy. MBCP is a formal adaptation of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program and was developed and refined over the course of 11 years of clinical practice with 59 groups of expectant couples. MBCP is designed to promote family health and well-being through the practice of mindfulness during pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenting. Quantitative results from the current study include statistically significant increases in mindfulness and positive affect, and decreases in pregnancy anxiety, depression, and negative affect from pre- to post-test (p\.05). Effect sizes for changes in key hypothesized intervention mediators were large (d[.70), suggesting that MBCP is achieving its intended effects on maternal well-being during pregnancy. Qualitative reports from participants expand upon the quantitative findings, with the majority of participants reporting perceived benefits of using mindfulness practices during the perinatal period and early parenting. Our future research will involve conducting a randomized controlled trial of MBCP to test effects on psychophysiological stress mechanisms and to examine effects on birth outcomes, family relationship quality, and child development outcomes.
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