Purpose: Perinatal distress, especially depression, commonly occurs during pregnancy and the first year postpartum, but this medical condition are often undiagnosed and untreated. The present study explored how women with depressive symptoms during the perinatal period who had participated in a mindfulness course applied the training and perceived its effects. Methods: This descriptive qualitative study included 16 women with probable perinatal depression who had participated in an 8-week mindfulness-based childbirth and parenting program during their pregnancy and agreed to be interviewed. One-to-one in-depth interviews were conducted and recorded following the completion of the mindfulness course, approximately 1 month after childbirth. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using content analysis. Results: We proposed three themes and six subthemes relating to first-time mothers’ experiences during and after the group mindfulness-based intervention: learning to be aware of the body and mind (confronting awareness of physical change, managing negative feelings differently), building positive family relationships (strengthening the motherebaby bond, developing a satisfactory marital partnership), and overcoming ongoing challenges (conquering childbirth pain with confidence, accepting unexpected situations). Three main themes were generated to demonstrate how women experience the effects of mindfulness training. Conclusions Mindfulness-based interventions helped the participants develop insight into their mood and physical changes and accept their childbirth process. Therefore, mindfulness education programs can be incorporated into prenatal care to enhance the management of the depressive symptoms of perinatal women.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to explore the parental experience of making a "do not resuscitate" (DNR) decision for their child who is or was cared for in a pediatric intensive care unit in Taiwan. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted following parental signing of a standard hospital DNR form on behalf of their critically ill child. Sixteen Taiwanese parents of 11 children aged 1 month to 18 years were interviewed. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, analyzed and sorted into themes by the sole interviewer plus other researchers. RESULTS: Three major themes were identified: (a) "convincing points to sign", (b) "feelings immediately after signing", and (c) "postsigning relief or regret". Feelings following signing the DNR form were mixed and included "frustration", "guilt", and "conflicting hope". Parents adjusted their attitudes to thoughts such as "I have done my best," and "the child's life is beyond my control." Some parents whose child had died before the time of the interview expressed among other things "regret not having enough time to be with and talk to my child". CONCLUSION: Open family visiting hours plus staff sensitivity and communication skills training are needed. To help parents with this difficult signing process, nurses and other professionals in the pediatric intensive care unit need education on initiating the conversation, guiding the parents in expressing their fears, and providing continuing support to parents and children throughout the child's end of life process.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; *Decision Making ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Palliative Care/*psychology ; Parents/*psychology ; *Professional-Family Relations ; Qualitative Research ; Resuscitation Orders/*psychology ; Taiwan ; Young Adult