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This study examined the feasibility and accessibility of brief perinatal mindfulness-based interventions (1 prenatal, 2 postnatal) aimed at supporting the wellbeing of women and their infants living in the context of low income. First time expectant mothers (n = 202) were recruited through clinics and community-based organizations. We examined the feasibility of recruitment, research assessments and intervention implementation, and the acceptability of the intervention programs. Feasibility was assessed by recruitment and attendance numbers, and participant self-report on barriers and facilitators to participation. Intervention acceptability was assessed by class evaluation questions and qualitative interview. The study showed mixed feasibility with successful recruitment and retention in the study, attributable to incentives and strong community relationships which lead to high levels of completion of research assessments. However, there were low levels of group intervention attendance in the postpartum groups due to significant barriers to in-person program attendance. In qualitative interviews, participants indicated having an online or combined online and in-person option would address attendance challenges. Program evaluation and participant interview data show high levels of program acceptability, with over 95% reporting satisfaction with skills and information taught. The high level of class satisfaction across all three intervention programs, along with responses in the qualitative interviews suggests that a mindfulness approach is accepted and valued by this population. Intervention groups were valued by participants, pointing to the need for future iterations of such interventions to explore the use of online and combined online and in-person formats to assess their success in addressing attendance barriers. Highlights: Perinatal mindfulness interventions were accepted and valued by a diverse sample of mothers with low income. Expectant and new first-time mothers valued the connections and support of other new mothers in the intervention group setting. Significant barriers to attendance for low-income mothers in the perinatal period undermine the feasibility of in-person interventions. Adapting the perinatal interventions to an online or combination online and in-person program was desired by participants and may address attendance barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study examined specificity in the effects of three perinatal mindfulness-based prevention programs that differed in their timing (prenatal, postpartum) and target (maternal well-being, parenting). Effects on maternal mental health (depression, anxiety, resilience), mindfulness, and observed parenting, as well as observed, physiological, and mother-report indicators of infant self-regulation, were examined. Methods: The programs were evaluated in a racially and ethnically diverse sample of first-time mothers (n = 188) living in low-income contexts using intention-to-treat analysis. Mothers were assigned to a prenatal well-being, postpartum well-being, parenting, or book control group. Multi-method assessments that included questionnaire, observational, and physiological measures were conducted at four time points: during pregnancy (T1) and when infants were 2–4 months (T2), 4–6 months (T3), and 10–12 months. Results: Compared to the postpartum intervention and control groups, the 6-week prenatal well-being intervention was related to decreases in depressive symptoms during pregnancy but not postpartum, higher maternal baseline respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), fewer intrusive control behaviors, and lower infant cortisol levels in the early postpartum period. Compared to all other groups, the postpartum parenting intervention was related to decreases in maternal anxiety and increases in responsive parenting. Some differential effects across programs might be due to differences in attendance rates in the prenatal (62%) vs. postpartum (35%) groups. Conclusions: The findings suggest that brief mindfulness-based well-being and parenting preventive interventions can promote maternal and infant mental health in families living in low-income, high-stress settings, particularly if accessibility can be enhanced. Preregistration: This study is not preregistered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]