Expecting Mindfully
Nourish Your Emotional Well-Being and Prevent Depression during Pregnancy and Postpartum
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
Unlike other mindfulness resources for moms and moms-to-be, this compassionate book is grounded in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, a proven program. The authors are leading experts on the emotional challenges of pregnancy and early parenting--and how to overcome them. Guided meditations and gentle yoga practices help you build crucial skills to prevent depression, ease anxiety, and minimize stress during this unique and important phase of your life. Clear suggestions for how to follow the program day by day are accompanied by moving reflections from a "circle of mothers" working through the same steps. In a convenient large-size format, the book features journaling exercises and other practical tools (you can download and print additional copies as needed). The companion website also includes audio downloads narrated by renowned meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg, plus video clips of prenatal yoga practices.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Dimidjian and Goodman, psychology professors who specialize in women's mental health, devote this meticulous guide to introducing a persuasive, if challenging-sounding, program for using mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) to prevent depression and minimize anxiety and stress before, during, and after pregnancy. They guide mothers-to-be through eight "classes" or chapters, each including daily reading, "reflection questions," supportive quotes from past program participants, physical activities (yoga, walking), and journaling prompts, all intended to "build the skill of mindfulness in daily routine ways." Even before readers get to the classes, the authors provide "practical preparations for the journey," including a helpful "Is This Book for Me?" checklist. The sections are uniformly organized and open with "key lessons," from simple steps in class one such as learning "how to recognize autopilot" in daily life, to class two's "three-minute breathing space practice," to class three's more complex "practice of lovingkindness." Readers expecting a concluding summation will be disappointed, as the book ends abruptly with class eight. But those who work the program should gain valuable skills and tools for getting ahead of depression and anxiety, as well as a useful workbook for reference during pregnancy and quite likely for the rest of their lives.