A Different Practice in Prenatal Care: Mellow Bumps

Abstract

In our country, birth preparation classes are routinely opened in prenatal care and more and more pregnant women are participating in these classes day by day. However, these trainings generally evaluate the pregnancy, birth and postpartum period from a physical perspective, and therefore focus more on the physical health of the mother and the baby. Mother-infant interaction, which begins with the onset of pregnancy and continues until the baby is 3 years old, greatly affects the development of the child's competence and coping skills, which will affect lifelong learning, behavior and health. Psychological negativities experienced during pregnancy can have bad consequences not only for the woman but also for the baby. Poor mental health during pregnancy can lead to deficits in the baby's emotional, cognitive or behavioral development. In addition, the mother's mental health is an important factor affecting parent-infant attachment. Pregnancy is one of the special periods when women need psychological support the most. Mellow Bumps is a group-based intervention that uses psychological and practical techniques to reduce anxiety and improve well-being in pregnant women. It was developed as an alternative application that emphasizes attachment, especially targeting parents who are at high risk of encountering negative consequences due to the problems they experience. Its use is becoming more widespread day by day as an alternative application that can have a positive impact on mother-baby interaction by contributing to psychological well-being during pregnancy.