Mindfulness in Maternity

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Antenatal mindfulness intervention to reduce depression, anxiety and stress: a feasibility study of the acceptability and efficacy of a 4 week mindfulness based childbirth and parenting (MBCP)course.

• IRAS ID

  179670

• Contact name

  Sian Warriner

• Contact email

  sian.warriner@ouh.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 0 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  Preliminary evidence is emerging that teaching Mindfulness Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) skills in the antenatal period seems to have the effect of broadening women’s personal repertoire of coping strategies, and this has potential to improve the developmental trajectory of parents and infants (Dunn et al 2012, Duncan & Bardacke 2009, Vieten & Astin 2008). It promotes family health, parenting skills and supportive peer relationships; addresses fear, pain, stress and depression; and equips expectant parents with specific skills to negotiate the transition to parenthood. The benefits of this project, economically, socially and medically, are both short and long term and based on evidence that good mental health and wellbeing, and not simply the absence of mental illness, have been shown to result in health, social and economic benefits for individuals, communities and populations (DH 2011).
  A traditional MBCP course runs for 3hrs a week over 9 weeks however; providing the resource for this approach within a NHS setting is challenging. A few studies have begun to look at providing MBCP in a different format and over a shorter duration ( Woolhouse 2014, Duncan 2014, Guardino 2013). This study aims to explore the feasibility and efficacy of running an adapted 4 week MBCP course. Participants will be invited and recruited thorough the Oxford maternity services and the course (intervention) will in delivered in Children’s Centre settings in Oxfordshire. The intervention will be evaluated for adaptability and acceptability; participants will be asked to complete validated questionnaire measures pre and post intervention, focusing on parental mental health (anxiety, stress, depression), early parenting/bonding and mindfulness. Funding for this project is being met by a post-doctoral award from Health Education Thames Valley.

• REC name

  London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  15/LO/1697

• Date of REC Opinion

  25 Sep 2015

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion