Background: Pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period are times of significant transition for women, with changes in maternal physical and mental health. The relationship between a mother and her baby is influenced by a woman’s wellbeing and lay the foundation for later child development. Maternal mental health during pregnancy and following birth impact on her baby’s development and health and the next generations. This presentation explores the benefits of a mindfulness-based program on maternal stress, anxiety, and depression and the mother-baby relationship during pregnancy and the first post-partum trimester. It provides possible avenues for assessment and support strategies by pre/perinatal healthcare providers by sensitising them to the needs of mothers and babies prior, during, and post-partum and implementing respectful maternity care.

Methods: The impact of an online 9-session Prenatal Mindfulness Relationship-Based (PMRB) program including prenatal psychology education was investigated through 1) an examination of pre, post-treatment during pregnancy, and 10-12 weeks post-partum measures targeting 13 pregnant women from a non-clinical population and 2) an in-depth exploration of the same women’s experiences of the PMRB program reported during the sessions, including their birth stories. Responses to an open-ended question about how the program had supported them were summarised using thematic analysis.

Results: The quantitative study showed improvements in mindfulness, depression, interoception and mother-baby relationship post-program and at post-partum follow-up, and a positive attitude to the birth experience leading to breastfeeding even in those women who received intervention. Sixteen themes were identified and organised in four categories.

Conclusions: These findings have significant implications for preventive programs aiming to reduce the risk for postnatal psychological disorders, including birth trauma, and mother-baby bonding difficulties by promoting maternal mindfulness and embodiment and mother-baby relationship during pregnancy and post-partum. Pre/perinatal healthcare practitioners and therapists working in a range of healthcare and clinical settings may support pregnant and birthing women through a mindfulness/compassion relationship-based approach to promote mindfulness and the mother-baby relationship in utero and post-partum, thus impacting baby development. This is much needed by a maternity system in which women are increasingly being psychologically and physically harmed during childbirth. As maternal health and the reclamation of women’s leadership in healthcare become a Global Public Health priority, governments are facing the pressure to acknowledge the scale of the problem.

Antonella received her honors degree in clinical psychology in Italy, master’s degree in the UK, and PhD in pre/perinatal mental health and mindfulness in Australia and undertook indigenous field-studies in Africa on the influence of pre/perinatal nurturing practices on child development and health. She sees the implications of parenting and mental health and their impact on children development and health for Global Health and Life Sustainability. She is a certified mindfulness teacher, established author, international speaker, and artist. She has received several academic awards and a Global Talent Visa for her international exceptional achievements in the field and contribution to Australia’s society by driving innovation. These rich culturally diverse experiences fostered her cultural sensitivity and respect, shaping a trauma-informed and compassion-based approach to pre/perinatal healthcare. She has published three interdisciplinary books and several articles. She is the creator of the Prenatal Mindfulness Relationship-Based (PMRB) program piloted in her PhD and leading to a new book. The program promotes maternal mindfulness, mental health, and mother-infant relationship during pregnancy and post-partum, with benefits for infant development and heath. She has been involved with several societies.