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 values in second (r = −0.644, p = 0.013) and third trimesters (r = −0.601, p = 0.030) were associated with lower fetal HC%. There was no group difference in fetal HC%. A future, fully powered study is needed to replicate these findings. Clinical Trials Number: NCT03679117
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
GluckmanPD, HansonMA, BuklijasT. A conceptual framework for the developmental origins of health and disease. J Dev Orig Health Dis, 2010; 1(1):6–18; doi: 10.1017/S2040174409990171
2.
HermesM, Antonow-SchlorkeI, HollsteinD, et al.Maternal psychosocial stress during early gestation impairs fetal structural brain development in sheep. Stress, 2020; 23(2):233–242; doi: 10.1080/10253890.2019.1652266
3.
WuY, LuYC, JacobsM, et al.Association of prenatal maternal psychological distress with fetal brain growth, metabolism, and cortical maturation. JAMA Netw Open, 2020; 3(1):e1919940; doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.19940
4.
GrahamAM, DoyleO, TildenEL, et al.Effects of maternal psychological stress during pregnancy on offspring brain development: Considering the role of inflammation and potential for preventive intervention. Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging, 2022; 7(5):461–470; doi: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2021.10.012
5.
BishopSR, LauM, ShapiroS, et al.Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clin Psychol Sci Pract, 2004; 11(3):230; doi: 10.1093/clipsy.bph077
6.
DhillonA, SparkesE, DuarteRV. Mindfulness-based interventions during pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Mindfulness (N Y), 2017; 8(6):1421–1437; doi: 10.1007/s12671-017-0726-x
7.
Noroña-ZhouAN, CocciaM, EpelE, et al.The effects of a prenatal mindfulness intervention on infant autonomic and behavioral reactivity and regulation. Psychosom Med, 2022; 84(5):525–535; doi: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001066
BlackDS, SlavichGM. Mindfulness meditation and the immune system: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 2016; 1373(1):13–24; doi: 10.1111/nyas.12998
10.
RådmarkL, SidorchukA, OsikaW, et al.A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of mindfulness based interventions on heart rate variability and inflammatory markers. J Clin Med, 2019; 8(10):1638; doi: 10.3390/jcm8101638
11.
BublitzMH, Salmoirago-BlotcherE, SanapoL, et al.Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of mindfulness training on antenatal blood pressure. J Psychosom Res, 2023; 165:111146; doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111146
12.
Salmoirago-BlotcherE, CrawfordSL, CarmodyJ, et al.Phone-delivered mindfulness training for patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators: Results of a pilot randomized controlled trial. Ann Behav Med, 2013; 46(2):243–250; doi: 10.1007/s12160-013-9505-7
13.
Kabat-ZinnJ. Mindfulness-based interventions in context: Past, present, and future. Clin Psychol Sci Prac, 2003; 10(2):144–156.
HadlockFP, HarristRB, Martinez-PoyerJ. In utero analysis of fetal growth: A sonographic weight standard. Radiology, 1991; 181(1):129–133; doi: 10.1148/radiology.181.1.1887021
16.
FergusonKK, KamaiEM, CantonwineDE, et al.Associations between repeated ultrasound measures of fetal growth and biomarkers of maternal oxidative stress and inflammation in pregnancy. Am J Reprod Immunol, 2018; 80(4):e13017; doi: 10.1111/aji.13017
