Meditation and Mindfulness in Pregnancy and Postpartum: A Review of the Evidence.
S. Babbar, Alejandro J Oyarzabal, E. Oyarzabal
Clinical obstetrics and gynecology June 23, 2021 DOI: 10.1097/grf.0000000000000640 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Pregnant and postpartum women |
| Interventions | Mindfulness practices meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Sufficient evidence supports mindfulness practices reducing anxiety, depression, and stress during pregnancy, with possible continued benefits postpartum. |
Abstract
Given their growing popularity, mindfulness practices including meditation are actively being studied in clinical trials to assess their efficacy at improving health outcomes during pregnancy and the postpartum period. We conducted a literature review to compile these studies and assessed their findings. There is sufficient evidence to support the practice of mindfulness practices in pregnancy to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress during pregnancy, which may continue to have beneficial effects through the postpartum period. There is limited evidence on the benefits of mindfulness and meditation for other aspects of pregnancy. However, due to the low-risk nature of these techniques, all women should be encouraged to engage in mindfulness practices during pregnancy.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 13
- Dispositional mindfulness profiles in pregnant women: relationships with dyadic adjustment and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Frontiers in Psychology 2023
- Exploring the Role of Melatonin in Meditation on Cardiovascular Health Biointerface Research in Applied Chemistry February 2, 2022
- The Impact of Mindfulness Programmes on Anxiety, Depression and Stress During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Healthcare June 9, 2025
- Bidirectional relationships between mindfulness and symptoms of depression and anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum. Journal of reproductive and infant psychology May 7, 2025
- Mindfulness for maternal health: A systematic umbrella review of effectiveness for addressing depression and anxiety symptoms Journal of Affective Disorders Reports October 11, 2026
and 8 more in the library
Cites 25
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 23, 2011
- The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists PLoS One May 24, 2017
- Effects of Meditation Experience on Functional Connectivity of Distributed Brain Networks Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2012
- Buddha's Brain: Neuroplasticity and Meditation [In the Spotlight] IEEE Signal Processing Magazine 2008
and 20 more in the library