"During my pregnancy I switched off Instagram for a week: it did me a world of good." Anna Beduschi, one of us: feeling perpetually one reel away from the role of the perfect mother is highly likely, even when in real life you are the Italy country manager of one of the most widely used meditation and breathing apps in Europe, with 11 million users — Petit BamBou. Starting in June, the app is launching two new programmes dedicated to conscious pregnancy and conscious parenting: "We want to offer a moment to breathe, where every parent can rediscover themselves, beyond ideal models and daily pressures."

Most parents of young children are exhausted, but for some the effort of being faultless parents can spiral into burnout. Although the main health agencies classify it as a work-related phenomenon, recent data tell a different story. According to a survey conducted in April 2024 in the United States, 66 per cent of parents feel isolated in their role and 62 per cent report feeling completely drained. A picture that highlights how mental load is having a growing impact on parents' psychological health. In Italy, only 32 per cent of parents feel they have the difficulties of their role under control, while 44 per cent identify managing tantrums and anger outbursts as the main challenge in raising a child.

It is in this context that Mindful Parenting takes shape — a ten-session programme conceived and led by psychotherapist and mindfulness instructor Nicoletta Cinotti: "Many of our reactions as parents do not stem from what is happening in the present, but from deep-seated automatisms and conditioning. Among these, a fundamental role is played by the so-called 'danger schema', an unconscious alerting mechanism that leads us to interpret as a threat what is, in reality, simply an unprocessed emotion. Learning to distinguish between fear and danger thus becomes a crucial step towards responding with greater clarity and sensitivity."

A central element is the concept of reparenting: the ability to take care of oneself with the same love and attention one wishes to offer one's children. With indulgence, because the path to change is paved with imperfections. One might as well embrace them, and remain open to what is possible right from the start of the journey. Even during the nine months of pregnancy, when it is vitally important not to be consumed by fears, guilt and social expectations. For the meditation app with the logo of the little smiling bonze, feminine embodiment, yoga and mindfulness coach Beatrice Mazza has created Gravidanza Consapevole, a programme that explores themes such as connecting with one's womb, deep breathing, managing fears, trusting one's inner strength and preparing for labour, complemented by guidance on posture, breathing and mindful movements to prepare body and mind for practice. "Every meditation is an invitation to welcome change with gentleness and awareness," explains Beatrice.

However, just as supplements do not replace a healthy and balanced diet, mindfulness applications excellently complement in-person programmes and can represent an alternative when these are inaccessible, without replacing them entirely. One reason, as noted in an in-depth study published in Nature, is that most commercially available products have not been scientifically evaluated and struggle to keep users engaged.

Among the thousands of meditation and mental health apps on the market, not all are of equal worth; experts monitor above all the risks associated with the non-transparent use of algorithms, chatbots and artificial intelligence: at best, they deliver an inconsistent service. Undoubtedly, the direct contribution of qualified professionals who bring a personal lived experience approached with great sensitivity — such as Nicoletta and Beatrice — adds genuine value and substance.