More About APPPAH

The Association for Pre- and Perinatal Psychology and Health focuses attention on the life-changing discoveries being made in the first period of human development from preparation for pregnancy through the postpartum period and establishment of breastfeeding.

We find that prenatal and perinatal experiences have a profound impact on health and human behavior. We believe that life is a continuum which starts before conception, not at birth. During this formative period, mother and child are not isolated but fundamentally interconnected. A loving prenatal and perinatal experience inspires bonding and sensitivity to others which have long-term consequences for individual relationships and for society. Womb ecology eventually determines world ecology as the seeds of harmony or violence are sown by parents, educators, and caretakers.

APPPAH task forces publish The APPPAH Newsletter and the Journal of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health, hold regional and international conferences, promote research, serve the public with valuable directories and resources, work to enhance the pregnancy experience and prevent birth trauma. We encourage development of new methods for healing the psychological wounds of pregnancy and birth.

Congresses:

Since the first International Congress on Pre- and Perinatal Psychology held in Toronto in 1983, biennial congresses have been a major activity of the Association. Congresses were held in San Diego (1985), San Francisco (1987), Amherst (1989), Atlanta (1991), Washington D.C. (1993), San Francisco (1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003), San Diego (2005) and Los Angeles (2007). Recordings of all congresses from 1983 to 2007 are now indexed, searchable by keywords, and available from Gold Key Recordings. The next International Congress will convene April 24-27, 2009 at Asilomar Conference Center on Monterey Bay, California. CLICK here for information and early registration.  

 Publications:

The original quarterly, Pre- & Perinatal Psychology Journal, was founded and edited by Thomas Verny, M.D. in the Spring of 1985. Beginning with volume 12 (1) Fall, 1997 the title was changed to Journal of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health reflecting the Association's change of name. The Association owns and publishes the Journal and seeks leading edge articles in the field of prenatal and perinatal psychology and health. The Editor welcomes original papers on the psychological aspects of very early parenting, pregnancy, prenatal bonding and communication, childbirth, psychological factors in birth complications, birth losses and grief, adoption, the primal origins of health, birth and violence, the healing of birth trauma, and contrasting psychological experiences of birth in other cultures. The Journal is a benefit of membership and may be purchased by individuals, libraries and other institutions by annual subscription from the APPPAH office. Beginning with the Fall issue in 2007 the Journal will also be available in an electronic edition. To propose or to submit an article please contact the Editor-in-Chief, Bobbi Jo Lyman, Ph.D.

On a quarterly schedule, the Association also publishes The APPPAH Newsletter. Copies are mailed to members. Anyone may access the electronic edition of the Newsletter on the Association website at www.birthpsychology.com/bits/newsletter. Marcy Axness, Ph.D. is Editor in Chief.  Regarding contributions, please contact Marcy Axeness, Editor. 

Books & Videos in Birth Psychology is periodically updated and published on the website. This selected list is limited to books published in the last twenty five years and kept in print. An attempt is made to identify the dozen most influential books judged by their large circulation, multiple editions, and foreign translations.  Click here for the Bookstore.

The APPPAH Website, Birthpsychology.com was founded in 1996 by David B. Chamberlain, Editor and Edward Goldberg, founding Webmaster. The number of persons visiting the website has steadily increased so that in 2008 we are receiving visits from 1,000 computers daily from over 100 countries. The purpose of the website is to share with the world the life-changing discoveries being made in the growing field of prenatal and perinatal psychology. The site is a unique and compact treasury of information. This project is a gift from the members of the Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health. Please join us!
 

Collaborations:

APPPAH cooperates with other groups dealing with the psychological dimensions of birth and life before birth, including our "sister" society, the International Society of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Medicine (ISPPM), founded in Austria in 1971. This society holds regional meetings every year and a world congress every three years.

APPPAH is a partner in the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) which promotes a wellness-- rather than disease--model of maternity care, and advocates baby-friendly, mother-friendly, and family-centered hospitals and birthing centers.

APPPAH is an Affiliate of the Alliance for Transforming the Lives of Children (aTLC) which seeks to work synergistically with organizations and experts working in the field of bonding and attachment of children.
 
APPPAH cooperates with: OMAEP, the World Organization of Associations for Prenatal Education, which holds conferences in Europe emphasizing prenatal parenting. They have developed an association with the United Nations as a non-governmental organization (NGO) led by Julie Gerland in France.

APPPAH honors and utilizes the Archives for Psychology of Pre- and Perinatal Life located at the Institute of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Austria. The Archive invites, safely stores, and makes available to scholars the psychological literature of prenatal and perinatal life.

APPPAH partners with Santa Barbara Graduate Institute, the only school in the world offering full M.A. and Ph.D curriculums with faculty in the field of prenatal and perinatal psychology. Members of the Association inspired, nourished, and led in founding the school, while others attend as graduate students and are members of the faculty. SBGI is global in its mission, offering a variety of  courses and flexible programs to meet the needs of aspiring professionals around the world.   

Governance:

APPPAH is a California public-benefit educational corporation, under Section 501(c)(3) of the revenue code and is exempt from state and federal taxes. The ten directors of the Association are elected by vote of the membership at each Congress. Directors elect a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Directors hold office for one year and may be nominated for reelection. The current officers are:  William Emerson and Wendy McCord, Co-Presidents; Barbara Findeisen, Vice-President; Carrie Contie, Secretary; and David Chamberlain, Treasurer.