Autonomic function and inflammation in pregnant women participating in a randomized controlled study of Mindfulness Based Childbirth and Parenting

Background: Pregnancy and childbirth are significant events in many women’s lives, and the prevalence of depressive symptoms increases during this vulnerable period. Apart from well documented cognitive, affective, and somatic symptoms, depression is associated with physiological changes, such as reduced heart-rate variability (HRV) and activation of the inflammatory response system. Mindfulness Based Interventions may potentially have an effect on both HRV, inflammatory biomarkers, and self-assessed mental health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of a Mindfulness Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) intervention on HRV, serum inflammatory marker levels, through an RCT study design with an active control group. Methods: This study is a sub-study of a larger RCT, where perceived stress was the primary outcome. Participants were recruited through eight maternity health clinics in Stockholm,  Sweden. The inclusion criteria were being a woman with a history of depression and/or anxiety and/or early life adversity and/or current high levels of perceived stress. Blood samples and HRV measures for the present study were collected from the first 60 participants that were included in the larger study (26 in the intervention and 34 in the control group). Results: Participants who received MBCP reported a significantly larger reduction in perceived stress and a significantly larger increase in mindfulness, compared to participants who received the active control treatment. However, the intervention had no significant effect on either inflammatory serum markers or measures of HRV. Conclusions: No significant differences were found regarding changes in HRV measures and biomarkers of inflammation, larger studies may be needed in the future. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02441595. Registered 12 May 2015 - Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02441595