Impact of mindfulness-based interventions in the prenatal period on maternal mental health: A quasi experiment

Abstract

Background: The mother-baby dyad creates a synergistic being during pregnancy, and women's health at this time is crucial for fetal development and wellness. The time of pregnancy is one of excitement and joy. Unfortunately, it comes with stress and anxiety regarding the baby's health, the delivery method, and any potential complications. These worries can predispose women to developing depression as a result. Methods: Using a purposive sampling method, a prospective nonrandomised cohort research study was carried out at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 2021–2022. Patients who satisfied the inclusion criteria were enrolled whereas patients who were unable to devote the required time and adherence to various mindfulness interventions were placed in the control group. The researcher administered questionnaires such the FFMQ-15, EPDS, and PSS to each patient. Descriptive analysis was used for the various demographic characteristics that were recorded. The intervention and control groups were compared using independent t tests and chi-square tests for the continuous variables viz-EPDS, PSS, and FFMQ-15. Results: The study comprised 36 patients in total; 13 patients were in the control group and 23 patients were a part of the intervention group. The mean ages of the intervention and control groups were 30.78 years and 25.69 years, respectively. A sufficient amount of mindfulness meditation interventions had been practiced by 79% of the patients. Two of the five FFMQ subscales, observing (p=0.001) and describing (p=0.013), indicated a substantial improvement in the mindfulness score in the intervention group. Whereas, acting with awareness, one of the FFMQ's five subscales, saw a substantial increase in the mindfulness score in the control group (p=0.010). There was a statistically significant reduction in the EPDS score in the intervention group before and after the intervention (p=0.007). The reduction in the PSS score after the intervention was statistically significant in the intervention group (p=0.030). Conclusion: The intervention was perceived as more readily acceptable to women belonging to a higher socio-economic stratum owing to awareness prevalent due to a better education status. The positive impact of mindfulness practices was witnessed owing to the contrast of levels of stress and depression upon enrolment, and their observed decrease after following the various mindfulness interventions.