Effects of Western and Eastern Perspectives of Mindfulness-Based Interventions during Pregnancy on Birth Outcomes, Maternal Physical Health, and Maternal Mental Health

For most women their first pregnancy is a life-changing time. This dynamic period poses many physical and psychological challenges despite the fact that pregnancy is a fundamentally healthy and normative process. One of these challenges has to do with the uncertainty of the outcomes of the birth for the mother, the infant, and the life of the family as a unit. Many women suffer from anxiety, depression, and increased levels of stress during pregnancy (Alder et al. 2011). The detrimental effects of distress, anxiety, and depression for the health and wellbeing of expecting mother and of infants have been documented in numerous animal and human studies (Glover et al. 2010). …