What is learned from Mindfulness Based Childbirth and Parenting Education? – Participants’ experiences
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: In the search for effective interventions aiming to prevent perinatal stress, depression and anxiety, we are evaluating a Mindfulness Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) Program. In this study we explore the participants' experiences of the program. METHOD: This is a descriptive qualitative study with influences of phenomenology. The participants were expectant couples who participated in the program and the pregnant women had an increased risk of perinatal stress, anxiety and depression. Ten mothers and six fathers were interviewed in depth, at four to six months postpartum. Thematic analysis of the transcripts was conducted. RESULTS: The participants' descriptions show a variety in how motivated they were and how much value they ascribed to MBCP. Those who experienced that they benefitted from the intervention described that they did so at an intra-personal level-with deeper self-knowledge and self-compassion; and on an inter-personal level-being helpful in relationships. Furthermore, they perceived that what they had learned from MBCP was helpful during childbirth and early parenting. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that most of the parents experienced MBCP as a valuable preparation for the challenges they met when they went through the life-changing events of becoming parents. The phenomenon of participating in the intervention, integrating the teachings and embodying mindfulness seems to develop inner resources that foster the development of wisdom. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02441595, May 4, 2015.
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Recent studies found a beneficial effect of mindfulness practices as valuable preparation for challenges during pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood, and as prevention for PND in the perinatal period.
“Recent studies found a benefit effect on mindfulness practices as a valuable preparation for the challenges they met during pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood [95] and as a prevention for PND in the perinatal period [96].”
From Acceptance Mindfulness-Trait as a Protective Factor for Post-Natal Depression: A Preliminary Research (2022) · cites this paper as [96]
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- Authors
- Lönnberg, G., Nissen, E., & Niemi, M.
- Affiliations
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Lönnberg, Gunilla
- Venue
- BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Published
- 2018-12
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 466-466
- ISSN
- 1471-2393 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6276167
- OpenAlex
- W2903115319
- Cited by
- 29
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 3.23
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Uppsala University Publications (Uppsala University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Ekhaga foundation (2013-32)
- Vetenskapsrådet (2014-10167)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
- Keywords
- mindfulness, perinatal stress, perinatal depression, perinatal anxiety, expectant couples, expectant fathers, self-compassion, self-knowledge, interpersonal relationships, wisdom, childbirth preparation, early parenting, participant experiences
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Anxiety, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Education, Nonprofessional, Empathy, Female, Humans, Male, Motivation, Parents, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Risk, Stress, Psychological, Sweden, Parenting, Depression, Postpartum, Qualitative Research, Young Adult, Prenatal Education, Mindfulness
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