An interesting new study has found that practicing mindfulness during pregnancy can have benefits for coping with labour, and lower the risk of postpartum depression.

 

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison noted that a fear of childbirth is linked to lower pain tolerance during labour, and poor postpartum adjustment. They wanted to see if introducing the element of mindfulness during pregnancy could have positive outcomes for mums-to-be preparing for birth.

 

They assigned 30 women in their final trimester to two different groups - one received mindfulness-based birth classes, while the other received traditional birthing classes. None of the women had given birth before.

 

Those in the traditional birthing classes received factual information about the stages of labour, and how to cope once the baby arrived.

 

Those in the mindfulness-based classes received information on preparing for labour and birth, but were also instructed in mindful movement, walking meditation, and pain-coping strategies. These women also received materials to help them practice mindfulness on their own, such as guided audio meditations.

 

 

While there wasn’t a difference in perceived levels of labour pain, they did find that the women who practiced mindfulness had greater body awareness during pregnancy, and lower odds of postpartum depression after the birth.

 

Participants in both groups requested epidurals at similar rates, and both groups reported similar levels of labour pain; but those who practiced mindfulness were less likely to seek opioid-based medication during labour.

 

62 per cent of women in the traditional birthing class group sought narcotic medication during labour compared to just 31 per cent in the mindfulness group, according to results published in the journal BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.

 

Researchers believe that the mindfulness skills helped some participants to go without pain medication in the early stages of labour.

 

 

The study concluded that “mindfulness training carefully tailored to address fear and pain of childbirth may lead to important maternal mental health benefits, including improvements in childbirth-related appraisals and the prevention of postpartum depression symptoms".

 

“There is also some indication that participants may use mindfulness coping skills instead of opioid pain medication," authors added.

 

As this study involved a small group of women, researchers say it would be worth investigating the phenomenon further, with a larger group, to fully explore its benefits.

 

They suggest mindfulness techniques could be implemented as part of a preparation programme, to help women overcome a fear of childbirth and to lower rates of postpartum depression and make the postpartum period easier to cope with.

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