The characteristics and effectiveness of pregnancy yoga interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the characteristics and effectiveness of pregnancy yoga interventions, incorporating the FITT (frequency, intensity, time/duration and type) principle of exercise prescription. 

Twenty-nine studies with 2217 pregnant women were included for meta-analysis.

Key findings from the article: 

• In terms of birth outcomes, a meta-analysis showed that women in the yoga groups experienced a shorter duration of labour up to 2 h on average
• They were 2.5 times more likely to experience a normal vaginal birth, had reduced IV analgesic administered and reported higher levels of comfort. 
• Low-frequency yoga interventions had a more significant impact on mode of birth while interventions with 6–12 sessions reduced anxiety.

These findings are supported by a previous qualitative review that examined yoga and its efficacy with 10 of the 15 studies demonstrating positive changes in maternal psychological or birth outcome measures. A recent meta-analysis also found that yoga was an effective complementary and alternative therapy in promoting vaginal births and shortening the first and second stages of labour. Overall, The evidence highlights positive effects of pregnancy yoga on anxiety, depression, perceived stress, mode of birth and duration of labour.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8957136/