Shobitha Muthukrishnan1, Reena Jain2, Sangeeta Kohli3, Swaraj Batra4. 1. Professor and Head of Department, Department of Physiology, HIMSR , Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India . 2. Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, HIMSR , Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India . 3. Demonstrator, Department of Physiology, HIMSR , Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India . 4. Professor and Head of Department, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, HIMSR , Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India .
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Various pregnancy complications like hypertension, preeclampsia have been strongly correlated with maternal stress. One of the connecting links between pregnancy complications and maternal stress is mind-body intervention which can be part of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). Biologic measures of stress during pregnancy may get reduced by such interventions. AIM: To evaluate the effect of Mindfulness meditation on perceived stress scores and autonomic function tests of pregnant Indian women. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Pregnant Indian women of 12 weeks gestation were randomised to two treatment groups: Test group with Mindfulness meditation and control group with their usual obstetric care. The effect of Mindfulness meditation on perceived stress scores and cardiac sympathetic functions and parasympathetic functions (Heart rate variation with respiration, lying to standing ratio, standing to lying ratio and respiratory rate) were evaluated on pregnant Indian women. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in perceived stress scores, a significant decrease of blood pressure response to cold pressor test and a significant increase in heart rate variability in the test group (p< 0.05, significant) which indicates that mindfulness meditation is a powerful modulator of the sympathetic nervous system and can thereby reduce the day-to-day perceived stress in pregnant women. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that mindfulness meditation improves parasympathetic functions in pregnant women and is a powerful modulator of the sympathetic nervous system during pregnancy.
RCT Entities:
INTRODUCTION: Various pregnancy complications like hypertension, preeclampsia have been strongly correlated with maternal stress. One of the connecting links between pregnancy complications and maternal stress is mind-body intervention which can be part of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). Biologic measures of stress during pregnancy may get reduced by such interventions. AIM: To evaluate the effect of Mindfulness meditation on perceived stress scores and autonomic function tests of pregnant Indian women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pregnant Indian women of 12 weeks gestation were randomised to two treatment groups: Test group with Mindfulness meditation and control group with their usual obstetric care. The effect of Mindfulness meditation on perceived stress scores and cardiac sympathetic functions and parasympathetic functions (Heart rate variation with respiration, lying to standing ratio, standing to lying ratio and respiratory rate) were evaluated on pregnant Indian women. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in perceived stress scores, a significant decrease of blood pressure response to cold pressor test and a significant increase in heart rate variability in the test group (p< 0.05, significant) which indicates that mindfulness meditation is a powerful modulator of the sympathetic nervous system and can thereby reduce the day-to-day perceived stress in pregnant women. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that mindfulness meditation improves parasympathetic functions in pregnant women and is a powerful modulator of the sympathetic nervous system during pregnancy.
Authors: Maria Muzik; Susan E Hamilton; Katherine Lisa Rosenblum; Ellen Waxler; Zahra Hadi Journal: Complement Ther Clin Pract Date: 2012-07-15 Impact factor: 2.446
Authors: Lydia Brown; Alora A Rando; Kristina Eichel; Nicholas T Van Dam; Christopher M Celano; Jeff C Huffman; Meg E Morris Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2021 Jul-Aug 01 Impact factor: 4.312
Authors: Bernd Lenz; Anna Eichler; Eva Schwenke; Verena N Buchholz; Charlotte Hartwig; Gunther H Moll; Karin Reich; Christiane Mühle; Bernhard Volz; Adriana Titzmann; Matthias W Beckmann; Hartmut Heinrich; Johannes Kornhuber; Peter A Fasching Journal: Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd Date: 2018-12-14 Impact factor: 2.915