BACKGROUND: The experience of discrimination among pregnant women of color is linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Mindfulness training, in which participants are taught to observe stressors with acceptance and curiosity, may mitigate psychological consequences of discrimination. However, prior trials of mindfulness have lacked racial and ethnic diversity and may not be culturally congruent...
This was a secondary analysis of a prenatal mindfulness training (MT) RCT versus treatment as usual (TAU) on neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a measure of maternal inflammation, and fetal head circumference. Fifteen participants were randomized to MT and 14 to TAU. NLR in third trimester was significantly lower in the MT group (F = 7.11, p = 0.019) relative to those in TAU. Higher NLR...