The Postpartum Handbook; mindful maternal self-care with the Alexander Technique
At present (2026) I have stopped sending out my book proposal on the Handbook. Sadly, there was not enough interest to pursue the project. Perhaps something will turn up in the future.
Please find some links below with further information about the doctoral research I undertook about how women use the AT in the postpartum.
April 2025: study published in Perinatal Journal of Education
Click here for the chapter in the book Perspectives on Midwifery and Parenthood, published by Springer, 2023, called Wellbeing and Early Motherhood. The AT is mentioned as a potentially helpful approach.
Click here for an interview about Study 1 findings.
Publication in the journal MIDWIFERY. Women's experiences of using the AT in the postpartum: "In a way, it's just as beneficial as sleep."
An interview about Study 2 findings. (A paper on this study was published by the Journal of Perinatal Education.)
Click here for a video on a summary of the research findings.
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Podcast episode (70 mins) with Sarah Mayhan, Poised and Powerful Parenting.
A summary of the thesis' integrated discussion: psychological effects of the AT, a blog post by my colleague Henry George.
Becoming a mum (or having another baby) is life-changing and can be physically and psychologically challenging.
Find out more about the Alexander Technique, here.
Who is the researcher? Nicola Hanefeld PhD
What some study participants said about the online self-care package piloted during the research.
‘Prior to taking part in the study, I was always doing something I thought I needed to do. It allowed me to slow down and appreciate being in the moment
One woman realised ‘how important it is to really look after myself and do it very consciously’.
The study gave another participant time to ‘reflect on the postpartum experience instead of just rushing around.’
‘… but when you do sort of manage to calm a little bit… you just feel stronger, a little more in control and I found I had more patience.’
‘…there was also like, a little pain over my shoulders and it helped me to remove a little bit of that tension. I was more conscious of the movement of my body…’
All podcasts with my colleague Sarah Mayhan in the US on the Alexander Technique can be found here.
Maternal self-care with the Alexander Technique - video
University of Hull: press release
Nicola's LINKS: further information about her work.