The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions During Pregnancy on Birth Outcomes and the Mother's Physical and Mental Health: Integrating Western and Eastern Perspectives

Stress and negative affect during pregnancy have been linked to poor childbirth outcomes and postnatal depression, and may interfere with both mother-infant attachment and child development. Despite this, there has been a conspicuous lack of rigorous scientific studies into the efficacy of psychosocial interventions aimed at reducing these factors, and the scarce available body of research offers surprisingly few recommendations for such interventions. Mindfulness training, both from Western and Eastern perspectives, has the potential to fill this gap, and this chapter examines the benefits it holds for pregnant women. Common salutary mechanisms are identified, as well as their unique contribution to this population's well-being. Finally, practical recommendations are provided for both practitioners and researchers, with the aim of placing new mothers and their families on a healthier developmental trajectory.