Inflammatory Pathways Modulated by Prenatal Mindfulness: A Route to Improve Maternal Child Emotional Well Being and Whole Person Health

The goal of this study is to investigate inflammation as the biological mechanism by which mindfulness based cognitive therapy for perinatal depression (MBCT-PD) administered during pregnancy improves women's emotional well-being and whole person health index during pregnancy and the early postpartum period. Secondarily the investigative team will determine if MBCT-PD administered during pregnancy improves the physical health and emotional well-being of the developing child.

Inclusion Criteria: * Pregnant women aged 18-50 in good health. * Individuals who do not expect to move over the next year. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancies deemed high risk due to multiple pregnancies, medical conditions such as type 1 or 2 diabetes, mellitus, cancer, hypertension, kidney disease, and epilepsy, the presence of infections (HIV, hepatitis C), history of three or more miscarriages, or if the fetus has been diagnosed with a genetic condition such as Down syndrome. * Smoking (\>5 cigarettes during pregnancy), * Drinking alcohol (\>10 drinks during pregnancy) * Marijuana use (legal in Oregon), * Reported illicit drug use