Perinatal depression is a leading cause of preventable US maternal morbidity and mortality. Although Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Perinatal Depression (MBCT-PD) is highly effective, it faces significant scalability challenges. Center M, a brief, group-based, mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention, is an adaptation of MBCT-PD designed to overcome these...
Mindfulness has a natural affinity with midwifery practice. By attending to the holistic care of our patients, we have an interest in helping our patients cope with life stressors in addition to physical and mental health conditions and normal life changes across the lifespan. The use of mindfulness meditation as a therapeutic approach to reduce stress, improve mental health, manage pain, and...
INTRODUCTION: Sexual distress during pregnancy can cause a negative attitude toward sexuality during pregnancy, and this can be seen especially in conjunction with body image concerns. This study was conducted to determine the effects of mindfulness-based sexual counseling (MBSC) on sexual distress, attitudes toward sexuality, and body image concerns in pregnant women. METHODS: A randomized...
There has been a steady increase in people with symptoms of depression over the past several years (since 2011). The further increase in stress and depression in the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by an increase in unmet mental health needs. Many have turned to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies such as bright-light therapy, yoga, meditation, and dietary...
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is an important health problem that affects women of childbearing age. Mindfulness, a meditation practice that cultivates the acceptance of events as they occur in the moment without judgment, is a promising strategy to help women cope with PMS. This study aimed to test the efficacy of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program in decreasing premenstrual...
Existing and emerging evidence indicates that perinatal depression is a key contributor to preventable morbidity and mortality during and after childbearing. Despite this, there are few effective options for prevention and treatment that are readily accessible for and appealing to pregnant people. Aspects of routine health care systems contribute to this situation. Furthermore, societal and...
The research and use of psychedelic medicines to treat common mental health disorders has increased substantially in the past 2 decades. At the same time, knowledge is relatively uncommon among midwives regarding (1) the relative benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy, (2) best practices associated with the delivery of psychedelic-assisted therapy, and (3) responsible integration of this...
Introduction: The postpartum period can be a challenging experience for many women as they adjust to the physical and social changes after childbirth. Mindfulness-based interventions have been developed for stress reduction in a variety of health contexts, including pregnancy. These interventions provide strategies that may help new mothers handle the physical, emotional, and relationship...
Some women have a dissociated, out-of-body experience (OBE) during childbirth, which may be described as seeing the body from above or floating above the body. This review examines this phenomenon using narratives from women who have experienced intrapartum OBEs. A narrative synthesis of qualitative research was employed to systematically synthesize OBE narratives from existing studies. Strict...
Introduction: This pilot study tested the feasibility and effectiveness of using Mindfulness-Based Childbirth Education (MBCE), a novel integration of mindfulness meditation and skills-based childbirth education, for mental health promotion with pregnant women. The MBCE protocol aimed to reduce fear of birth, anxiety, and stress and improve maternal self-efficacy. This pilot study also aimed to...