Se préparer à la naissance en pleine conscience (livre + cd)

I'm curious about the personal journey or research that led Nancy Bardacke to develop this approach. Did she have a moment that sparked this focus?

Reading about these techniques makes me wonder if they really help in the intensity of real childbirth. Have others tried them and found them useful or challenging?

The book emphasizes prenatal mindfulness, but I wonder if it also helps new parents cope with the emotional ups and downs after birth. Has anyone experienced this?