Description:

This presentation will explore the growing role of mindfulness-based interventions in prenatal care, focusing on the Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) program and its global expansion. We will review findings from pilot studies, including improvements in pregnancy-related anxiety and depression symptoms. Special attention will be given to health equity initiatives, highlighting the integration of mindfulness training into CenteringPregnancy group medical visits. The talk will also explore the implications of recent randomized controlled trials of MBCP in international contexts, illustrating how these approaches may be applied broadly to promote family well-being and improve mental health outcomes. We will conclude with a discussion of future directions, emphasizing the principles of reproductive justice, focusing on empowering all birthing people to have agency over their childbirth and parenting experiences. 

Featuring:
Larissa Duncan, PhD
Elizabeth C. Davies Chair in Child & Family Well-Being 
Professor of Human Development and Family Studies The School of Human Ecology and the Center for Healthy Minds University of Wisconsin–Madison