Mindfulness Based Interventions for Maternal Child Health
Mindfulness interventions have been found to decrease symptoms and health issues and to improve overall health. We conducted two mindfulness based studies at Thomas Jefferson University to determine effects of mindfulness on maternal child health. The first study that will be presented was a one year pilot Mindfulness in Pregnancy in the Ob/Gyn Dept with women at risk for PTB. The other study was with new mothers in treatment for opioid use to improve mindfulness, parenting quality and to reduce stress. Each study will be briefly described and the results will be shared. The findings suggests that mindfulness can reduce anxiety in pregnancy and may lead to improved birth outcomes. Additionally, mindfulness appears to improve the quality of parenting among women in treatment for opioid misuse. The implications of the intervention, the study findings and understanding the etiology of stress and trauma will be discussed with participants following the presentation.
Dr. Diane J. Abatemarco is a Professor and the Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a Professor of Pediatrics at Thomas Jefferson University. She also is the Director of Maternal Addiction Treatment, Education and Research Division (MATER) at Jefferson University. Her primary areas of expertise in research with underserved populations include health behavior change, implementation science, evaluation and outcomes, behavioral epidemiology and drug dependence treatment.
Dr. Abatemarco’s primary research is focused on innovative interventions to enhance health care for child and maternal health systems. She is currently the Principal Investigator of a federally funded AIA project, Practicing Safety Mindfulness for Mothers in Drug Treatment. As the Principal Investigator, she and her colleagues created and tested Practicing Safety with the American Academy of Pediatrics. She has integrated this pediatric-based practice transformation intervention to prevent toxic stress and improve development of children age 0 to 3 with mindfulness based parenting with new mothers in treatment for opioid addiction. Dr. Abatemarco has conducted research globally and was the Primary Investigator of an US/Croatian Healthy Cities Partnership to delay the onset of alcohol use among adolescents in Split, Croatia; she has worked with the country of Croatia on two separately funded projects.
In her work in social epidemiology she conducted a study of HIV infected pregnant women to determine their rates of treatment and to identify factors associated with receipt of treatment. She also has conducted survey research projects to determine tobacco prevalence among pregnant women, college students, and adults, as well as to survey prenatal providers about tobacco dependence treatment practices. Dr. Abatemarco is currently funded to implement mindfulness to women at risk of preterm birth, obese pregnant and recently delivered women, and to pediatricians and their staffs. She is involved in a national effort to increase mindfulness in pediatrics and reduce toxic stress.
Dr. Abatemarco has mentored more than 25 doctoral students, fellows, residents and medical students. She created and is the former Director of the PhD in Population Health Sciences at Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Abatemarco is married to Peter Abatemarco, Esq. who has been a Public Defender for more than 25 years. Together they have raised five children, both biological and adopted. Their lives together have been dedicated to eliminate racism and improve lives for those with special needs within their family and in their work.
The Innovative Discoveries Series, sponsored by the Delaware Clinical & Translational Science ACCEL program and the Christiana Care Value Institute, features informal presentations on topics relevant to current research and healthcare practice, led by knowledgeable and experienced presenters. There are offerings for researchers, healthcare providers, and community members of varying levels of experience.
These free talks are held Fridays at noon at Christiana Hospital but can be viewed from your home or office computer. Earn CMEs by participating in-person or online. Lunch is served and all are welcome to attend.
To see the full calendar of events, visit the Value Institute Events page or the ACCEL website, or subscribe to the ID Series mailing list.
Contact Sarahfaye Dolman at sarahfaye.f.dolman@christianacare.org with any questions.