Vol 8 Issue 4
Focus On The Creative Arts in Pregnancy, Birth and New Parenthood
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Art therapy for fear of childbirth
- Group singing in the treatment of postnatal depression
- The role of music in the parent-infant relationship
- Mindfulness techniques for parents and toddlers
- Maternal journaling
- Excersise in pregnancy
Author: Mary Nolan
Author title: Professor
Description: Mary Nolan, Editor, reflects on an issue that discusses the contribution the creative arts can make to the health and wellbeing of mothers, babies and families, and celebrates the creativity Ishown by those who entered the IJBPE Video Competition.
Description writer: Professor of Perinatal Education, College of Health, Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Worcester, UK
Author: Susan Hogan
Author title: Professor of Arts &Health
Description: Susan Hogan, Professor of Arts & Health at the University of Derby and Professorial Fellow at the
Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, discusses the place of the arts in supporting and empowering women across the transition to parenthood.
Description writer: Professor of Arts & Health at the University of Derby and Professorial Fellow at the Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham
Author: Samantha Smith
Description: This article addresses the positive effects of mindfulness on the parent-
child dyad, the mechanisms that make mindfulness successful in parenting and mindfulness activities practitioners can teach families to do in their own homes.
Description writer: Assistant Psychology Training Director, The Children’s Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
Author: Hang Su, Laura T. Simon, Sarah J. Schoppe-Sullivan
Description: This article explores the current understanding of the role of music in the parent-infant relationship, which provides a guide for parents, caregivers, and practitioners who work with parents and infants.
Description writer: Hang Su, Department of Music Education, School of Music, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
Laura T. Simon, Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA
Sarah J. Schoppe-Sullivan, Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA
Author: Rosie Perkins
Description: The arts and music are increasingly being used in healthcare contexts, providing new ways of supporting women experiencing illnesses such as postnatal depression (PND). This article details some of the evidence for how group singing can support recovery from PND and outlines key characteristics of effective singing interventions for maternal mental wellbeing.
Description writer: Rosie Perkins, Centre for Performance Science, Royal College of Music; Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London
Author: Rehana Jawadwala
Description: It is now recognised that not only is it safe to exercise during pregnancy, but more importantly, that a sedentary lifestyle is detrimental to both mother and baby. Clinically meaningful reductions in the risk of developing gestational diabetes and hypertension suggest that, not only should exercise be ‘allowed’ during pregnancy, but actively encouraged.
Description writer: Founder and Director, MummyYoga
Author: Helén Wahlbeck
Description: Fear and dread of giving birth is a growing and multi-faceted problem. It is not uncommonly associated with previous difficult birth experiences or other traumas. To provide the best possible support, it is important to grasp the origin of fear and enable the woman herself to understand the nature of her fear both mentally and physically. Art therapy may be useful for this purpose.
Description writer: Helén Wahlbeck, Midwifery Clinic NVS, Region Skåne, Sweden
Author: Laura Godfrey-Isaacs
Description: Maternal Journal is an interdisciplinary Arts in Health project which explores the potential of journaling in pregnancy, early parenthood and beyond, as a way to promote wellbeing and positive mental health, particularly for those who have a history of mild to moderate mental health issues.
Description writer: Artist, Midwife and Birth Activist
Author: Sally Hogg
Author title: Head of Policy and Campaigning
Description: Sally Hogg explores the benefits of green spaces and how the pandemic exposed the inequalities in accessing them
Description writer: Head of Policy and Campaigning at the Parent Infant Foundation, UK
Author: Mary Nolan
Author title: Professor
Description: Professor Mary Nolan addresses the importance and role of Aims and Learning Outcomes in antenatal or postnatal sessions and how to create them.
Description writer: Description writer: Professor of Perinatal Education, College of Health, Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Worcester, UK
