Mindfulness-Based Childbirth Education for Pregnant Women With Distress

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a mindfulness-based childbirth and parenting education program on pregnant women who were identified as having prenatal distress. A randomized controlled trial design was used with a pre-test/post-test model. The participants were recruited from Kayseri City Training and Research Hospital's Pregnancy School and Outpatient Clinic between November and December 2022.

A total of 201 pregnant women were screened using the Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale (TPDS), and 31 women who scored 28 or higher and met the inclusion criteria were selected. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups: an intervention group (n=16) that received an 8-week mindfulness-based childbirth and parenting education program, and a control group (n=15) that received standard prenatal education.

The mindfulness-based program was conducted online and included guided mindfulness practices, psychoeducation, breathing exercises, and home assignments. Each session lasted approximately 120 minutes and was held once a week for eight consecutive weeks. Participants were also encouraged to practice formal and informal mindfulness exercises at home throughout the program.

The data were collected using several validated instruments, including the Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for labor pain, Maternal Attachment Scale, and Postpartum Self-Evaluation Questionnaire. Data collection occurred at multiple time points: before the intervention, after the intervention, on the first postpartum day, and during the first and fourth postpartum months.

Inclusion criteria

Female participants aged 18 to 35

First-time pregnancy (primigravida)

Gestational age between 24 and 32 weeks

No chronic medical or psychiatric conditions

Able to participate in online sessions

TPDS (Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale) score of 28 or higher

Minimum literacy level to understand consent and questionnaires

Voluntary participation and signed informed consent

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Exclusion criteria

• High-risk pregnancy (e.g., preeclampsia, placenta previa)

Multiple pregnancy (e.g., twins or more)

Existing diagnosis of major psychiatric disorders

Participation in any previous mindfulness training

Inability to complete follow-up assessments

Non-consent or withdrawal from the study