*If you are interested in this program, please fill out this form to be added to the interest list. We will contact you once this program is scheduled.

Course Description

Welcome to the transformative journey of preparing to embrace motherhood (again, for some of you!). Learning to practice mindfulness is great preparation for the arrival of your little one; and it’s also an opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery.

Designed for pregnant women, the Mindful Motherhood (MM) program brings the powerful practice of mindfulness to preparing for labor and the journey of becoming a mom.

Adapted from Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Mindful Motherhood also draws from other evidence-based interventions that emphasize acceptance-based coping skills, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Mindful Motherhood is focused on reducing stress and anxiety, being able to regulate difficult emotions, promoting of healthy behaviors, and strengthening attachment and bonding between mothers and their babies. It is geared towards improving participants' ability to self-regulate emotional distress, alleviate stress, enhance mood, foster maternal sensitivity, and elevate the quality of mother-infant interactions.

By incorporating three fundamental practices—mindfulness while sitting, mindfulness while moving, and mindfulness in everyday life—MM aims to support women, whether planning a pregnancy, currently pregnant, or nursing a new born, in developing the capacity to be fully present in the moment, attuned to their bodies, and able to maintain a nurturing connection with their babies, even in distressing situations. These qualities form the foundation of being a mindful and responsive parent, enabling you to navigate the unpredictable nature of parenthood with grace and confidence.

As you embark on this adventure, remember to celebrate your commitment to intentional self-care and conscious parenting. Your dedication to honing these essential skills will undoubtedly contribute to the kind of mother you aspire to be. Embrace this opportunity to grow, learn, and connect with others who share the same journey into parenthood. We are here to support you every step of the way. Congratulations on taking this meaningful step toward building a strong foundation for both yourself and your growing family!

Format:

• Online
• 90-minute weekly classes for 6-weeks
• Home practice assignments between sessions

Recommended Reading:

• Mindful Motherhood: Practical Tools for Staying Sane During Pregnancy and Your Child's First Year, by Cassandra Vieten, PhD
• Mindful Birthing: Training the Mind, Body, and Heart for Childbirth and Beyond, by Nancy Bardacke, CNM, MA
• The Pregnancy Workbook: Manage Anxiety and Worry with CBT and Mindfulness Techniques, by Katayune Kaeni PsyD

Objectives

• Articulate the aspects of mindfulness as it relates to helping pregnant women and early mothers develop the capacity to be present in the moment, present in their bodies, and to remain in nurturing connection with their babies, even in distressing situations.
• Practice the key aspects of mindfulness during and after pregnancy to become more aware of present moment experience, increase ability to tolerate and regulate distressing affect without resorting to unhealthy behaviors, and cultivate capacity to be fully present more often with oneself and one’s child(ren).
• Apply mindfulness techniques to increase ability to self-regulate affective distress, reduce stress and improve mood, enhance maternal sensitivity, and improve the quality of mother/infant interactions.
• Communicate the potential benefits mindfulness to family and friends (note: This course does not train facilitators, it is for participants wishing to learn the tools and techniques of mindfulness for themselves).
• Continue to deepen personal practice of mindfulness.

Cancellation Policy

A refund of your registration payment (minus your $50 non-refundable/non-transferable deposit) will be made for participants who withdraw prior to the start of the 1st class by emailing mindfulness@health.ucsd.edu. If you decide to cancel after the 1st session and before the 2nd session starts, 50% of your registration payment will be refunded. No refunds will be made after the 2nd session starts. Please be aware that the registration fee, deposits, and funds are non-transferable to other programs.

In the unlikely event that the course is cancelled, UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is responsible only for a full refund of the registration fee. In regards to the In-Person Programs, the center is not responsible for any refunds to transportation, hotel accommodations, or any miscellaneous expenses.

The refunds are processed in the same method as the payments were submitted.