Effectiveness of Yoga during Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a spectacular phase in the life of the woman and her family. During pregnancy, many emotional and physiological changes occur in a woman’s body.

Stress during pregnancy may lead to several complications for the mother and unborn fetus. Stress is a genetically determined pattern of the response of human physiology to a challenging situation. Stress affects physical, mental, and emotional conditions in a woman’s body. It may originate from life events and other factors such as financial, social, and relationship issues.

When pregnant women are exposed to stress the whole system of the stress regulation center, i.e. hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal cortex system (HPA axis) and the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system-adrenal medulla system, is activated. Also, hormones like corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropin-releasing hormone (ACTH), cortisol and adrenaline, are released into the bloodstream.

Effects of stress during pregnancy

Pregnant women perceive stress in different ways and may respond differently. Stress depends on heredity, personality, previous experiences with stress, available social support, and various methods for the coping system. Normally neuro-endocrine systems respond to acute stress when pregnant women face physical, psychological, social, and financial problems. When these problems become too complicated, the adaptive mechanisms may fail and the stress response may even cause diseases. When the fetus is exposed to high stress during pregnancy, there is the trigger of neuroendocrine response, leading to maternal endocrine changes, accelerated fetal maturation, preterm birth, and low birth weight. Several pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and physical methods are available for stress relief during pregnancy. Pregnant women need efficient means of improving muscle tone as well as cardiovascular strength throughout the pregnancy.

Role of yoga during Pregnancy:

Yoga is an ancient form of therapy that has contributed to the holistic living of an individual in the most natural and trusted way for many years. Yoga is like a spiritual route to maintain equilibrium in the mind and body.

Yoga therapy helps in immunological, neuromuscular, psychological, and pain conditions. Research studies have proven that yoga therapy is effective in reducing stress and blood pressure. Many physical and physiological changes are occurring during pregnancy and it may lead to stress and discomfort for pregnant women.  By performing early initiation of asanas and pranayama and shavasana can enhance the condition of health of pregnant women.

During pregnancy, pregnant women battle mood swings, stress, fatigue, morning sickness, leg cramps. Yoga therapy eases all pregnancy-related complications and leads to easy labor and mental relaxation.

Yoga therapy helps in maintaining mental equilibrium. These yogic techniques improve physiological function and prevent complications like preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, obesity during the antenatal period, antepartum hemorrhage, and postpartum hemorrhage. Pranayama especially Anulomaviloma, Bhramari pranayama, and Shavasana can be performed during pregnancy and these are proven to be safe during that period. They also reduce antenatal stress levels and have good maternal and neonatal outcomes.

A recent research study done in Udupi District has shown that pregnant women who performed regular yoga therapy in the second trimester experienced much reduction in stress level as well as improvement in maternal and neonatal outcome namely increase in birth weight, easy delivery. Because of yoga a relaxed pregnant lady hardly experiences preterm labor pains and associated problems. The child born will be fit and healthy leading to an overall happy environment.

At this juncture with fear of risky delivery and neonatal deaths, it is yoga and meditation which is the need of the hour to build immunity in pregnant women and also to maintain a relaxed mind only then-pregnant ladies can be assured healthy and normal childbirth.

(Written by Dr. Maria Pais, Assistant Professor, Department of OBG Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal)