Amabebe, E., & Anumba, D. O. C. (2018). Psychosocial stress, cortisol levels, and maintenance of vaginal health. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 9(568), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2018.00568
Asiri, M. D., Banjar, R., Al-Qahtani, W., Goodarzynejad, H., & Hassouna, M. (2019). Central nervous system changes in pelvic inflammation/pain patients. Current Bladder Dysfunction Reports, 14(4), 223–230. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11884-019-00530-x
Baessler, K., O’Neill, S. M., Maher, C. F., & Battistutta, D. (2009). A validated self-administered female pelvic floor questionnaire. International Urogynecology Journal, 21(2), 163–172. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-009-0997-4
Berntson, G. G., & Khalsa, S. S. (2021). Neural circuits of interoception. Trends in Neurosciences, 44(1), 17–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2020.09.011
Braeken, M. A. K. A., Jones, A., Otte, R. A., Nyklíček, I., & Van den Bergh, B. R. H. (2016). Potential benefits of mindfulness during pregnancy on maternal autonomic nervous system function and infant development. Psychophysiology, 54(2), 279–288. https://doi.org/10.1111/psyp.12782
Cárdenas, E. F., Kujawa, A., & Humphreys, K. L. (2019). Neurobiological changes during the peripartum period: Implications for health and behavior. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 15(10), 1097–1110. https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsz091
Chu, B., Marwaha, K., Ayers, D., & Sanvictores, T. (2024, May 7). Physiology, stress reaction. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541120/
Cleveland Clinic. (2022, June 15). Autonomic nervous system: What it is, function & disorders. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23273-autonomic-nervous-system
Cleveland Clinic. (2023, November 16). Nervous system: What it is, types, symptoms. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21202-nervous-system
Cleveland Clinic. (2024, January 12). Pelvic floor dysfunction. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14459-pelvic-floor-dysfunction
Cleveland Clinic. (2024, April 6). What is the limbic system? Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/limbic-system
Etowa, J., Johnston, A., Jama, Z., Eccles, K. M., & Ashton, A. (2020). Mixed-method evaluation of a community-based postpartum support program: A study protocol. BMJ Open, 10(10), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036749
Dennis, M. (Ed.). (2025, July 7). Postpartum rage: What it is, and how to cope. Partum Health. https://www.partumhealth.com/resources/postpartum-rage
Golec, J., Gamrot, S., Michalik, M., Sulowska-Daszyk, I., Nowak, M., & Balicka-Bom, J. (2025). Effects of diaphragmatic therapy on pelvic floor muscle activity, stress levels, and sexual life satisfaction in Polish women. Applied Sciences, 15(22), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.3390/
González-Timoneda, A., Valles-Murcia, N., Esteban, P. M., Torres, S., Martínez, E. T., Garcia, P. E., Raya, L. S., & Alfonso, F. N. (2025). Prevalence and impact of pelvic floor dysfunctions on quality of life in women 5-10 years after their first vaginal or caesarian delivery. Heliyon, 11(3), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42018
Guo, P., Wang, S., Niu, M., Yang, H., Yun, Y., Zhao, D., Wu, C., Wang, P., Wang, S., Wang, P., & Ma, R. (2023). Development of a family-community interaction programme in the treatment of women with postpartum depression: Protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 13(2), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059060
Holstege, G. (2016). How the emotional motor system controls the pelvic organs. Sexual Medicine Reviews, 4(4), 303–328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sxmr.2016.04.002
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness (1st ed.). Dell Publishing.
Loizzo, J. J. (2016). The subtle body: An interoceptive map of central nervous system function and meditative mind-brain-body integration. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1373(1), 78–95. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.13065
Loucks, E. B., Crane, R. S., Sanghvi, M. A., Montero-Marin, J., Proulx, J., Brewer, J. A., & Kuyken, W. (2022). Mindfulness-based programs: Why, when, and how to adapt? Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 11, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/21649561211068805
Mehling, W. E., Price, C., Daubenmier, J. J., Acree, M., Bartmess, E., & Stewart, A. (2012). The Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA). PLoS ONE, 7(11), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0048230
Mulkey, S. B., & du Plessis, A. J. (2019). Autonomic nervous system development and its impact on neuropsychiatric outcome. Pediatric Research, 85(2), 120–126. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-018-0155-0
Mundorf, C., Shankar, A., Moran, T., Heller, S., Hassan, A., Harville, E., & Lichtveld, M. (2017). Reducing the risk of postpartum depression in a low-income community through a community health worker intervention. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 22(4), 520–528. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-017-2419-4
O’Hara, M. W., Schlechte, J. A., Lewis, D. A., & Varner, M. W. (1991). Controlled prospective study of postpartum mood disorders: Psychological, environmental, and hormonal variables. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100(1), 63–73. https://doi.org/10.1037//0021-843x.100.1.63
Ortiz, R., Gemmill, J. A. L., Sinaii, N., Stegmann, B., Khachikyan, I., Chrousos, G., Segars, J., & Stratton, P. (2020). Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responses in women with endometriosis-related chronic pelvic pain. Reproductive Sciences, 27(10), 1839–1847. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-020-00201-x
Pan, W.-L., Chang, C.-W., Chen, S.-M., & Gau, M.-L. (2019). Assessing the effectiveness of mindfulness-based programs on mental health during pregnancy and early motherhood - a randomized control trial. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 19(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-019-2503-4
Peper, E., Booiman, A., Lin, I-Mei., Harvey, R., & Mitose, J. (2016). Abdominal SEMG feedback for diaphragmatic breathing: A methodological note. Biofeedback, 44(1), 42–49. https://doi.org/10.5298/1081-5937-44.1.03
Peper, E., & Cohen, T. (2017). Inhale to breathe away pelvic floor pain and enjoy intercourse. Biofeedback, 45(1), 21–24. https://doi.org/10.5298/1081-5937-45.1.04
Porges, S. W., & Furman, S. A. (2011). The early development of the autonomic nervous system provides a neural platform for social behaviour: A polyvagal perspective. Infant and Child Development, 20(1), 106–118. https://doi.org/10.1002/icd.688
Porges, S. W. (2025). Polyvagal Theory: Current status, clinical applications, and future directions. PubMed, 22(3), 169–184. https://doi.org/10.36131/cnfioritieditore20250301
Price, C. J., & Hooven, C. (2018). Interoceptive awareness skills for emotion regulation: Theory and approach of mindful awareness in body-oriented therapy (MABT). Frontiers in Psychology, 9(798), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00798
Quintanilha, M., Mayan, M. J., Raine, K. D., & Bell, R. C. (2018). Nurturing maternal health in the midst of difficult life circumstances: A qualitative study of women and providers connected to a community-based perinatal program. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 18(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-018-1951-6
Rai, S., Pathak, A., & Sharma, I. (2015). Postpartum psychiatric disorders: Early diagnosis and management. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 57(6), 216–221. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.161481
Reyes, A. M., Akanyirige, P. W., Wishart, D., Dahdouh, R., Young, M. R., Estrada, A., Ward, C., Cruz Alvarez, C., Beestrum, M., & Simon, M. A. (2021). Interventions addressing social needs in perinatal care: A systematic review. Health Equity, 5(1), 100–118. https://doi.org/10.1089/heq.2020.0051
Schulz, A. (2015). Interoception and stress. Frontiers in Psychology, 6(993), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00993
Sharp, M., Ward, L. G., Pomerantz, M., Bourjeily, G., Guthrie, K. M., Salmoirago-Blotcher, E., Desmarattes, A., & Bublitz, M. H. (2024). Prenatal mindfulness training and interoceptive awareness in pregnant people at risk for hypertensive disorders. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 30(12), 1200–1208. https://doi.org/10.1089/jicm.2024.0121
Spitzer, R. L., Kroenke, K., Williams, J. B. W., & Löwe, B. (2006). A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: The GAD-7. Archives of Internal Medicine, 166(10), 1092–1097. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092
Talasz, H., Kremser, C., Talasz, H. J., Kofler, M., & Rudisch, A. (2022). Breathing, (s)training and the pelvic floor- A basic concept. Healthcare, 10(6), 1–11. https://10.0.13.62/healthcare10061035
Wang, Y., Gu, J., Zhang, F., & Xu, X. (2024). The multiple mediation model of social support and postpartum anxiety symptomatology: The role of resilience, postpartum stress, and sleep problems. BMC Psychiatry, 24(630), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-06087-2
Waxenbaum, J. A., Varacallo, M., & Reddy, V. (2023, July 24). Anatomy, autonomic nervous system. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539845/
Wiebe, J. (2015, December 2). How should you breathe? Julie Wiebe Physical Therapy. https://www.juliewiebept.com/how-should-you-breathe/
**Resources Developed from the Final Student Manuscript