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Postpartum depression has a prevalence rate of up to 17%. As there are many negative consequences of postpartum depressive symptoms, it is important to examine possible protective factors, such as trait mindfulness. Since postpartum depressive symptoms are variable over time between and within individuals, this study focused on the possible association between facets of trait mindfulness and trajectories of postpartum depressive symptoms throughout the first postpartum year. A subsample of 713 women that participated in the HAPPY study completed the Three Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form at 22 weeks of pregnancy and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at six weeks, four months, eight months, and twelve months postpartum. Possible different EPDS trajectories were obtained by means of growth mixture modeling. Two EPDS trajectories (classes) were found: a low stable symptom class (N = 647, 90.7%) and an increasing-decreasing symptom class (N = 66, 9.3%). Women in the low stable class showed higher 'acting with awareness' and 'non-judging' scores. A higher score on the 'non-judging' facet of trait mindfulness was associated with a higher likelihood of belonging to the low stable class (OR = 0.79, 95% CI [0.72, 0.87], p < 0.001), adjusted for confounders and the other mindfulness facets. The non-judging facet of trait mindfulness was associated with low stable levels of depressive symptoms during the first postpartum year. Mindfulness-based programs, focusing on enhancing non-judging may be of benefit for pregnant women to possibly decrease the risk of developing postpartum depressive symptoms after childbirth. • Postpartum depressive symptom classes were obtained using growth mixture modeling. • A low stable (90.7%) and increasing-decreasing (9.3%) EPDS class were established. • Facets of trait mindfulness are associated with EPDS trajectories after childbirth. • Non-judging is associated with low stable levels of postpartum depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnant women may be specifically prone to experience pregnancy-specific distress, which has been associated with adverse maternal, pregnancy and child outcomes. Accurately identifying pregnancy-specific distress is thus crucial. The Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale (TPDS) – translated into many different languages - was previously developed to measure pregnancy-specific distress, resulting in a 16-item screening scale with a partner involvement dimension (PI) and a negative affect dimension (NA). A critical evaluation of the psychometric properties of the TPDS-NA items and feedback from pregnant women over the last decade has led to the need to revise the TPDS. Therefore, in the current study, we describe the procedure for revision and evaluate the psychometric properties of the revised TPDS (TPDS-R). More specifically, we describe the revision of the TPDS-R-PI (4 items) and the TPDS-R-NA (10 items: five-item pregnancy and five-item childbirth subcomponent). A sample of 1081 pregnant women participating in the Brabant Study completed the TPDS-R at 12, 20 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. An exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, descriptive statistics and repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated good test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, internal consistency, and construct validity of the TPDS-R. The TPDS-R provides a robust screening tool to accurately identify pregnant women at risk of pregnancy-specific distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring possible protective factors against antenatal depression is important since antenatal depression is common and affects both mother and child. The person characteristic trait mindfulness may be such a protective factor. Because of the high variability in depressive symptoms over time, we aimed to assess the association between trait mindfulness and trajectories of depressive symptoms during pregnancy. A subsample of 762 women participating in the HAPPY study completed the Three Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form at 22 weeks of pregnancy. Possible different trajectories of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores, assessed at each pregnancy trimester, were explored with growth mixture modeling. Three EPDS trajectories (classes) were identified: low stable symptom scores (N = 607, 79.7%), decreasing symptom scores (N = 74, 9.7%) and increasing symptom scores (N = 81, 10.6%). Compared to belonging to the low stable class (reference), women with higher scores on the trait mindfulness facets 'acting with awareness' and 'non-judging' were less likely to belong to the decreasing class (OR = 0.81, 95% CI [0.73, 0.90] and OR = 0.77, 95% CI [0.70, 0.84]) and increasing class (OR = 0.88, 95% CI [0.80, 0.97] and OR = 0.72, 95% CI [0.65, 0.79]). Women with higher scores on 'non-reacting' were less likely to belong to the increasing class (OR = 0.89, 95% CI [0.82, 0.97]), but not the decreasing class (OR = 0.96, 95% CI [0.87, 1.04]). All analyses were adjusted for confounders. Characteristics of trait mindfulness predicted low stable levels of depressive symptoms throughout pregnancy. Mindfulness-based programs may be beneficial for pregnant women as a strategy to alleviate depression risks. • Growth mixture modeling was used to assess antenatal depressive symptoms. • We found a low stable (79.7%), decreasing (9.7%) and increasing (10.6%) EPDS class. • Trait mindfulness facets were associated with EPDS trajectories during pregnancy. • Characteristics of trait mindfulness predicted low stable depressive symptom levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The WHO recommends breastfeeding for at least six months as breastfeeding has many benefits for both infant and mother. The association of breastfeeding continuation with trait mindfulness during pregnancy and trajectories of postpartum depressive symptoms has not been examined yet. The current study aimed to assess this association using cox regression analysis. The current research is part of a large longitudinal prospective cohort study following women from 12 weeks of pregnancy onwards in the South-East part of the Netherlands. A total of 698 participants filled out the Three Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form (TFMQ-SF) at 22 weeks of pregnancy and completed both the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and questions on breastfeeding continuation one week, six weeks, four months, and eight months postpartum. Breastfeeding continuation was defined as exclusive breastfeeding or both breastfeeding and formula. The assessment eight months postpartum was used as a proxy for the WHO recommendation to continue breastfeeding for at least six months. Two trajectories (classes) of EPDS scores were determined using growth mixture modeling: 1) low stable (N = 631, 90.4%), and 2) increasing (N = 67, 9.6%). Cox regression analysis showed that the trait mindfulness facet non-reacting was significantly and inversely associated with the risk of breastfeeding discontinuation (HR = 0.96, 95% CI [0.94, 0.99], p =.002), while no significant association was found for belonging to the increasing EPDS class versus belonging to the low stable class (p =.735), adjusted for confounders. This study is the first to show that higher trait mindfulness non-reacting scores, but not persistently low levels of postpartum depressive symptoms, increase the likelihood of breastfeeding continuation. Improving non-reacting in perinatal women by meditation practice as part of a mindfulness-based intervention may lead to better breastfeeding continuation outcomes. Several mindfulness-based programs may be suitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breastfeeding has been associated with many health benefits for both infant and mother. Trait mindfulness during pregnancy may have a beneficial impact on breastfeeding intention. The current study aimed to examine whether trait mindfulness during pregnancy was associated with antenatal breastfeeding intention. The current study is part of a large prospective population-based cohort study among pregnant women in the south of the Netherlands. A subsample of participants completed the Three Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form at 22 weeks of pregnancy and a question on their breastfeeding intention at 32 weeks of pregnancy (N=790). Moreover, the Edinburgh Depression Scale and Tilburg Pregnancy Distress scale were completed at 32 weeks of pregnancy to assess levels of distress. Univariate analyses showed that women with breastfeeding intention during pregnancy had significantly higher scores on the mindfulness facet non-reacting (p <.001, medium effect size) and significantly lower scores on acting with awareness (p =.035, small effect size). A subsequent multiple logistic regression analysis showed that only non-reacting remained significantly associated with antenatal breastfeeding intention (OR=1.09, 95% CI [1.03, 1.15], p =.001), after controlling for confounders. Women who eventually initiated breastfeeding had significantly higher non-reacting scores (p <.001, small to medium effect size). The mindfulness facet non-reacting was found to be associated with antenatal breastfeeding intention. More research is needed to confirm our results, since the current study is one of the first assessing the possible relation of trait mindfulness during pregnancy and breastfeeding intention. Mindfulness-based programs during pregnancy could be helpful in improving non-reacting in pregnant women, which may enhance breastfeeding intention and ultimately the initiation of breastfeeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal love and caregiving are pillars for optimal child development and may affect infant outcomes from pregnancy onwards. The present study aimed to examine whether maternal trait mindfulness during pregnancy and pre- and postnatal maternal-infant bonding were associated with maternal perceptions of infant temperament and social-emotional development. In total, 408 Dutch women (M age = 31.33, SD = 3.59) participated in a prospective perinatal cohort study and completed questionnaires on trait mindfulness, prenatal bonding, postnatal bonding, infant temperament, and infant social-emotional development at 20 and 28 weeks of gestation, and 10 weeks, 6 and 12 months postpartum, respectively. Path analyses demonstrated that higher levels of the trait mindfulness facet non-judging (i.e., refraining from judgments about own feelings and thoughts) were associated with more pre- and postnatal maternal bonding and fewer social-emotional problems as perceived by the mother. Adopting an accepting and non-judgmental attitude may promote positive feelings of bonding and benefit the infant in terms of having fewer social-emotional problems in the first year of life. Mindfulness interventions may be offered to pregnant women in order to enhance maternal bonding and improve infant outcomes after birth. • Path analysis was used to evaluate predictors of social-emotional development. • The mindfulness facet non-judging was positively associated with maternal bonding. • Non-judging was also negatively associated with infant social-emotional problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]