Diaphragmatic Breathing Training on Postpartum Anxiety

Effects of A Biofeedback-assisted Diaphragmatic Breathing Training on Postpartum Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This is a two-group pretest-posttest, triple-blinded and randomized controlled trial examining the effects of a biofeedback-assisted diaphragmatic breathing training on postpartum anxiety. This study will include full-term postpartum women, aged from 20 to 49, who experienced anxious symptoms with State Anxiety Inventory (A-State) scored 40 or more at the first postpartum day. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 64) or a control group (n = 64). The experimental group will undergo the diaphragmatic breathing training assisted with StressEraser to breath slowly 4-6 times per minute and practice 15 minutes twice daily. Participants in the control condition receive postpartum usual care. The outcome measures include anxiety measured by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the physiological parameters expressed by blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). Measurements will be taken at the first postpartum day and one month postpartum. We except this breathing training design is able to improve women's postpartum anxiety, and in turn improve their physio-psychological health, breastfeeding and baby care skills.

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Inclusion Criteria:

• full-term postpartum women
• aged from 20 to 49
• STAI-S scored 40 or more at the first postpartum day

Exclusion Criteria:

• newborn with severe illness or stillbirth
• maternal suicide or self-harm
• drug use: sedatives, hypnotics or antipsychotic drugs