Below are four evidence-based ways meditation benefits both moms-to-be and their growing babies:
1. Meditation reduces stress for mom and baby.
Research shows that high levels of stress and anxiety increase risk factors during pregnancy, and by keeping stress levels low, you give your baby a healthier environment to grow in.
2. Meditation increases the chances of a full-term pregnancy.
A study that explored preterm birth found that women who participated in a mindfulness training program were 50 percent less likely to give birth early than women with no mindfulness education.
3. Meditation leads to less pain during labor.
A study of a group of people who attended a four-day mindfulness meditation training found that they were able to decrease the intensity of a painful stimulus by 40 percent.
4. Meditation leads to enhanced immunity.
This is important, seeing that moms-to-be are more susceptible to infections because their immune system is suppressed during pregnancy. This means that being on top of keeping your immunity high is a top priority. Thankfully, meditation enhances the body's immune function.
With all of this science supporting the benefits of prenatal meditation, I can't help but wonder why we aren't talking more about the importance of a woman's mind during pregnancy, as much as we speak about the health of her body.
It's my hope that as we move forward and learn more about the importance of a healthy mind during pregnancy that we provide the information and tools moms-to-be need to access and incorporate more meditation and mindfulness practices into their lives.