IMPACT OF SOPHROLOGY TOWARDS PERINATAL STRESS MONITORED BY SERUM CORTISOL LEVEL AMONG PRIMIGRAVID WOMEN

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Pregnancy is one of women's natural processes. Perinatal stress is prevalent during pregnancy which harms the fetus and neonate. When a mother has stress during her pregnancy stress hormones trigger the release of glucocorticoids stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is secreted at higher levels during the body’s stress response and is responsible for several stress-related changes in the body. Altered brain structure and its function are associated with perinatal stress. It has been found that changes in brain development will lead to changes in the child's fingerprint pattern. Sophrology techniques are an effective and simple method to reduce the cortisol secretion.

AIMS &OBJECIVES- The study aimed to assess the impact of sophrology on perinatal stress monitored by cortisol level among primiparous women. 

METHODS. Participants were 20 Primigravid women 10 experimental and 10 control group at 28 weeks of gestation. In the pre-test, cortisol level was checked for both groups. On the day of the pretest, sophrology techniques were demonstrated to participants of the experimental group but the control group only standard hospital routine care. After 6 weeks of intervention i.e. at 34- 36th weeks of gestation cortisol level was checked for both groups. 

RESULTS There were significant differences in the mean score of cortisol levels between the control and experimental groups (p=<0.001). The results of the study showed that the sophrology intervention reduced the cortisol level among primigravid women.