IMPACT OF YOGA ON DURATION AND MODE OF DELIVERY, AND BIRTH WEIGHT OF NEWBORN

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Yoga during pregnancy has gained recognition for its potential benefits in enhancing maternal well-being, offering physical Health and mental relaxation through gentle postions, breathing Exercises, and meditation practices.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of yoga interventions on childbirth outcomes, focusing on labor duration, mode of delivery, and newborn birth weight.

Methods: This study was conducted at Saveetha Medical college and Hospital, (SMCH).Chennai, India, with 132 pregnant women meeting selection criteria from a pool of 212 antenatal care recipients. Participants were allocated to four groups: conventional management, yoga intervention, antenatal exercises, and a combination of yoga and exercises. The interventions were administered for 2 days a week over 16 continous weeks. Data on demographic characteristics, mode of delivery, duration of labor, and newborn birth weight were collected and analyzed using SPSS software. Statistical significance was determined at p < 0.001.

Results: Emphasize the most important distinctions in order to emphasize their significance and relevance to this discussion were observed among the groups in terms of mode of delivery (χ2 = 23.1391, p = 0.000038), with higher rates of natural childbirth observed in the yoga intervention groups. Primigravida women across all groups experienced significantly longer labor durations compared to multigravida (F = 11.304, p < 0.001). The combined yoga and exercise group showed the shortest labor durations, with post hoc analysis revealing significant differences in labor durations between groups. There were no appreciable variations in the newborn birth weight between the groups (F = 1.414, p = 0.147).The combined yoga and exercise group showed the shortest labor durations, with post hoc analysis revealing significant differences in labor durations between groups. There were no appreciable variations in the newborn birth weight between the groups (F = 1.414, p = 0.147).

Conclusion: Combined yoga and exercise intervention resulted in more vaginal deliveries and prolonged labor durations compared to yoga or exercise alone. Birth weight was not influenced by the interventions. Future studies should focus on high-risk populations to further strengthen evidence-based protocols integrating modern and ancient yoga techniques.