Effects of Mindfulness-Based Practices in the Perinatal and Postpartum Periods on Women's Health: A Systematic Review

A systematic review of 26 randomized controlled trials found that mindfulness-based practices improve perinatal and postpartum women's mental health by reducing fear of childbirth, depression, anxiety, and stress, while enhancing psychological well-being, self-efficacy, self-compassion, and mindfulness. The most common intervention was online self-help programs. Physical health benefits included higher rates of normal vaginal births, increased maternal-fetal attachment, lessened birth pain, reduced need for medication or anesthesia, and support for healthy lifestyle behaviors. These findings suggest mindfulness interventions positively influence both maternal and infant mental health.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of mindfulness interventions on women's mental health in the perinatal and postpartum period. In the study, randomized controlled studies published in the last five years, from January 2018 to September 2023, were searched in CINAHL, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, and Springer Link databases. The keywords "Pregnancy", "Pregnant", "Prenatal", "Perinatal", "Postpartum", "Mindfulness", "Meditation", "Self-compassion" and "Randomized controlled trial" were used while searching the databases. The assessed articles were subjected to quality assessment using the PRISMA checklist and the Joanna Briggs Institute's Critical Appraisal Checklist for Randomized Controlled Trials. As a result of the search, 26 studies were found. The studies revealed that the most commonly applied mindfulness intervention among intervention groups was self-help programs in an online setting. Mindfulness-based practices significantly impacted women's mental health, reducing fear of childbirth, depression, anxiety, and stress levels, while enhancing psychological well-being, self-efficacy, self-compassion, and mindfulness. Furthermore, these practices also benefited women’s physical health, contributing to higher rates of normal vaginal births and increased maternal-fetal attachment. They were found to lessen birth pain, reduce the need for medication or anesthesia, and support the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors. These findings suggest that mindfulness interventions, which positively influence the mental health of both mothers and infants, should be widely applied to women, and the results of this study should be disseminated.