“This course has made it easier for me to embrace myself and my child”: A qualitative study of an adapted mindfulness-based stress reduction course for pregnant women with psychosocial vulnerabilities

Mental disorders are commonly encountered in pregnancy complications, and women with a preconception history of mental disorders or other psychosocial vulnerabilities are at increased risk. Mental disorders, such as depression, can persist postnatal and adversely affect mother-infant bonding and infant development. Consequently, it is important to address prenatal mental health. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the impact of an adapted Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course for pregnant women with psychosocial vulnerabilities as a method to support transition into motherhood. This study was conducted in collaboration with the Danish Centre for Mindfulness, Aarhus University, and an obstetric ambulatory clinic at Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre. It serves as a supplement to a quantitative investigation of an adapted MBSR course, prenatal MBSR, targeting pregnant women with psychosocial vulnerabilities. Interviews were conducted with five first-time mothers approximately one year postnatally to explore their experiences integrating elements from prenatal MBSR into their transition to motherhood. A reflexive thematic analysis was carried out. Four themes were generated to understand whether and how pregnant women with psychosocial vulnerabilities integrated elements from prenatal MBSR into the transition to motherhood and in relation to their child: (1) Awareness of the present moment; (2) Acting with consciousness towards oneself and one’s child; (3) Acceptance of oneself and one’s child, and (4) When it is difficult to integrate elements from prenatal MBSR. The findings suggested that prenatal MBSR may facilitate mother-child bonding and support the transition into motherhood for women with psychosocial vulnerabilities. Furthermore, the course may assist mothers in coping with challenges associated with this transition. Integrating MBSR practices into prenatal care may serve as a preventive intervention against maladaptive maternal adjustment and foster improved mother-infant relationships among populations with psychosocial vulnerabilities.