Improves Well-Being of New Mothers:

Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a physical therapy exercise and health care education program on the psychological well-being of new mothers. Design. This was a randomized controlled trial. Participants. Primiparous and multiparous English-speaking women ready for discharge from The Angliss Hospital postnatal ward were eligible for this study. Women who were receiving psychiatric care were excluded. One hundred sixty-one women were randomized into the trial. Intervention. The experimental group (n62) received an 8-week “Mother and Baby ” (M&B) program, including specialized exercise provided by a women’s health physical therapist combined with parenting education. The other group (education only [EO], n73) received only the same educational material as the experimental group. Main Outcome Measures. Psychological well-being (Positive Affect Balance Scale), depressive symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), and physica