Key result
Prenatal mindfulness improves blood glucose and HbA1c but shows mixed effects on adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Why the study?
Maternal stress contributes to adverse pregnancy outcomes linked to cardiometabolic risk, but few studies have evaluated whether mindfulness-based interventions during pregnancy mitigate these outcomes.
Do mindfulness-based interventions delivered during pregnancy reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with future cardiovascular and cardiometabolic disease risk?
Systematic Review (n=6)
Do mindfulness-based interventions delivered during pregnancy reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with future cardiovascular and cardiometabolic disease risk?
Mindfulness-based interventions during pregnancy show promise for improving gestational diabetes-related outcomes, though high-quality studies are needed to determine their impact on other cardiometabolic pregnancy complications.
Supports glycemic control in pregnancy; leaves open effects on preeclampsia, preterm birth, and SGA.
BACKGROUND: Growing evidence suggests maternal stress contributes to the development of adverse pregnancy outcomes that are associated with cardiovascular and cardiometabolic risk in birthing persons. Mindfulness-based interventions may positively affect psychological stress in pregnancy and, in turn, reduce stress. However, few study authors have examined the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on adverse pregnancy outcomes that heighten cardiovascular risk. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to appraise available literature examining the effects of mindfulness-based interventions delivered during pregnancy on adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with future cardiovascular and cardiometabolic disease risk. METHODS: In this systematic review, multiple electronic databases were searched using major keywords, including "mindfulness-based intervention," "pregnancy," "preterm delivery," "gestational diabetes," "small for gestational age," "preeclampsia," and "hypertension in pregnancy" during February 2023. RESULTS: Six studies using mindfulness-based interventions during pregnancy were included. The review indicated that these interventions were largely effective at reducing prenatal stress; however, the overall effects of interventions were mixed concerning their impact on pregnancy complications. Study authors examining the effects on gestational diabetes-related outcomes reported significant improvements in blood glucose levels, hemoglobin A 1c , and oral glucose tolerance. Outcomes were mixed or inconclusive related to the effects of interventions on the incidence of preterm birth, birth of a small-for-gestational-age newborn, and preeclampsia. CONCLUSIONS: Mitigating cardiovascular and cardiometabolic risk-associated adverse pregnancy outcomes through mindfulness-based approaches may represent an emerging field of study. The few studies and limited, mixed findings synthesized in this review indicate that high-validity studies are warranted to examine the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on pregnancy complications that contribute to cardiovascular-related maternal morbidity and suboptimal life course health for diverse birthing persons.
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Root et al. (2023) conducted a systematic review in Adverse pregnancy outcomes (n=6). Mindfulness-based interventions was evaluated on Adverse pregnancy outcomes (preterm delivery, gestational diabetes, small for gestational age, preeclampsia, hypertension). Mindfulness-based interventions during pregnancy significantly improved blood glucose levels and hemoglobin A1c, but had mixed effects on preterm birth, small-for-gestational-age, and preeclampsia.
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