Reducing Psychological Stress in Peripartum Women With Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Peripartum women are exposed to a variety of stressors that have adverse health consequences for the maternal-child dyad (e.g., impaired bonding). To combat these adverse health consequences, heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVBF) may be implemented by holistic nurses to aid peripartum women experiencing a high level of stress. A systematic review was completed using the guidelines established in the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement. To be included in the review, studies had to meet the following criteria: (a) published scientific articles, (b) studies published in English, (c) experimental, quasi-experimental, or case reports, (d) use of HRVBF as the main treatment, (e) use of psychological stress as a dependent variable, and (f) studies published until December 2017. The major findings of this review can be described as follows: (a) HRVBF and psychological stress in peripartum women are related concepts, (b) peripartum women who completed HRVBF report a reduction in stress compared with participants who did not receive HRVBF, and (c) there is currently no information on the effectiveness of HRVBF on psychological stress in the first and early second trimester of pregnancy. Overall, this systematic review of the literature provides objective evidence that HRVBF may be a potential beneficial adjuvant treatment for stress management in peripartum women.

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Technology-Based Approaches for Supporting Perinatal Mental Health

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Maternal depression and preadolescent symptoms: An examination of dyad-level moderators in an economically impoverished sample.

“…Findings also have implications for the development of novel interventions that might include biofeedback strategies to promote more adaptive stress responses (Wheat & Larkin, 2010). Biofeedback interventions teaching mothers to regulate their own physiological arousal have shown to successfully reduce mothers’ stress and mental health problems (Herbell & Zauszniewski, 2019); however, there is a lack of research extending this to the dyad-level. Recently, McCraty (2017) described new technologies that seek to measure and promote physiological synchronization within dyads and groups to facilitate self-regulation and cooperative, harmonious interactions.…”