The MBCP (Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting) Program: A 9-week program based on neuroscience research and mindfulness meditation, created by Nancy Bardacke in 1998 to support childbirth:

• Discover, listen to, and feel the bond with your baby throughout pregnancy

• Gain confidence by identifying different forms of stress and learning to manage them

• Acquire mindfulness tools and integrate them immediately into daily life during the prenatal period

• Develop coping strategies to address various forms of stress during pregnancy, labor, and childbirth

• Promote emotional resilience in the face of pain by separating it from suffering

• Develop communication with their partner, loved ones, and the medical team

• Recognize the partner’s role in optimizing the progression of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and welcoming the newborn in a supportive environment

• Prepare for parenthood

From its inception, the MBCP program has benefited from evaluative research conducted by Larissa Duncan of the Center for Healthy Minds, led by Richard Davidson at the University of Wisconsin. Several countries are engaged in scientific research and the implementation of this program. It is a support program for childbirth and the early stages of parenthood designed for pregnant women and couples. Initial research results have demonstrated significant effectiveness in reducing anxiety, improving pain management, and reducing factors associated with postpartum depression. In France, the Association for Mindful Birth and Parenting (ANPPC) is recognized by Nancy Bardacke as the official representative of the MBCP program in France. This association’s primary mission is to ensure the program’s implementation by training perinatal professionals in the context of birth support.

This program is inspired by the MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the University of Massachusetts, where he introduced mindfulness as early as 1979. The term “mindfulness,” translated into French as “pleine conscience,” means, according to Jon Kabat-Zinn’s definition: "Mindfulness consists of directing our attention in a certain way: deliberately, in the present moment, without judgment." This program has been scientifically validated and has been the subject of extensive international research, with implementation in numerous countries around the world; it has also inspired another program incorporating elements of cognitive therapy (MBCT, which has also been scientifically validated).

Key Takeaways

Programs based on mindfulness consist of training ourselves to be fully present in our experience here and now, without judgment, with an open and curious mind, kindly embracing the ever-changing nature of our existence. Through mindfulness—by paying attention to each moment—we increase our ability to tap into our inner resources. We open ourselves to the possibility of taking action to improve our physical health and mental well-being, as well as our relationships with others.

Professional interest in Mindfulness continues to grow, both for its clinical applications in health and well-being and for the understanding of its mechanisms of action. These interventions have become an important field of research in medicine, psychology, and neuroscience. In 10 years, we have gone from about 100 articles published in scientific journals in 2005 to over 1,500, as well as numerous books and a specialized scientific journal, "Mindfulness."

Initially, since the MBSR program was designed for patients with sometimes severe medical conditions, participants in the program (which lasted 8 weeks) were introduced to a series of practices to help them manage pain and stress as part of their medical care. They were encouraged to formally practice mindfulness-based activities every day (sitting meditation, body scan, and movement exercises such as walking and yoga-based movements).

These practices have proven effective and safe in reducing stress and anxiety. Over the past 20 years, mindfulness has received particular attention from clinicians, as well as in the fields of psychology and neuroscience, notably thanks to the development of neuroimaging. Since its inception, other programs derived from MBSR have emerged. The most prominent one after MBSR is MBCT. This is an adaptation of the program for the field of cognitive therapies (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, MBCT), whose validity has been recognized and published as a useful practice in preventing depressive relapses.

Today, advances in medical imaging have definitively shown that meditation alters brain function. The University of Wisconsin-Madison, under the leadership of psychiatrist Richard Davidson, has published the largest number of scientific articles on this subject. For over 30 years, these two protocols have been used worldwide in treatment programs at various hospitals and public health institutions. In France, MBSR and MBCT are integrated into certain hospitals (anxiety and depressive disorders, eating disorders, chronic pain, oncology). There is also a growing interest in these approaches in the fields of education (attention deficit disorders) and business (psychosocial risks).

References:

• "Mindfulness in the Midst of the Storm" - Jon Kabat-Zinn - Ed. de Boeck (2009)

• "Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression" - Segal, Williams, Teasdale - Ed. de Boeck (2006)

• "Preparing for Childbirth with Mindfulness" - Nancy Bardacke - Ed. Le Courrier du Livre 2016

Contact: Dr. Thierry Cardoso, Head of the Early Childhood Unit, Department of Prevention and Health Promotion, Santé publique France Email: Thierry.cardoso@santepubliquefrance.fr