Effect of Mindfulness Education in Primiparous Pregnant Women

Overview

While adaptation is generally achieved to the psychological changes that develop during pregnancy, some women may experience psychological changes such as contradiction, uncertainty, introversion, passive personality, addiction, fear, and anxiety in different periods of pregnancy. During this period, the fear of childbirth may also be experienced in pregnant women. Fear of childbirth or tokophobia is a phobic condition in which a woman avoids giving birth despite desperately wanting a baby. While fear of childbirth can have a negative impact on women's psychological health during pregnancy and birth experience, it is associated with negative obstetric outcomes and postpartum mental health problems. It is possible that the fear of childbirth reduces the mother's attachment to the fetus. Fear increases avoidant attachment and anxiety, which may be associated with lower commitment scores. There is a strong relationship between fear of childbirth and negative birth outcomes. Both affect the psychological well-being of the mother, adjustment to motherhood, and the quality of the mother's relationship with the baby. Knowing the fear of childbirth is important as it is associated with various health problems such as certain physiological and obstetric disorders and they can increase the possibility of emergency cesarean section. Mindfulness-based interventions combine elements of established cognitive behavioral therapy and psychoeducational content to support a self-effective approach to reduce stress-related symptoms and improve mental and physical well-being. Mindfulness-based practices that involve focusing on the present moment and accepting life without judgment are one of the effective ways to prepare for childbirth, help women feel more empowered and aware of their motherhood processes, and give mothers the opportunity to share knowledge and emotions. Mindfulness-based birth education intervention appears to be applicable for women and is associated with improvements in women's sense of control and confidence in giving birth.