Measuring the benefits of free pregnancy yoga classes

Abstract

Background Antenatal yoga is known to have many benefits, including increased comfort in labour, decreased pain in labour and decreased length of labour. Aims To identify the impact and benefits of free yoga sessions on women's pregnancy experience and birth outcomes. Methods A structured service evaluation was carried out, consisting of a small-scale audit of birth outcomes of primigravid women who had attended six or more yoga sessions, and a survey of women who had attended. Findings Women found the classes to be beneficial, and reported the breathing and relaxation to be invaluable. The social aspect of the classes enabled women to make friends and build support networks. The birth outcomes audit was small scale and did not account for confounding variables such as demographics or mobility in labour. Of the women audited, 83% had a spontaneous vaginal birth, and the average length of labour was 5 hours and 45 minutes. Conclusion Yoga classes have had multiple benefits for women during pregnancy, labour and birth, and beyond.