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Antenatal yoga and labor pain: A meta-analysis of the evidence

Summaries 3 min 14

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Created On: 06/10/2023

This study was performed to examine the usefulness of prenatal yoga practices in mitigating labor pain.

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Key take away

Antenatal yoga is a promising mind-body intervention that can be used effectively to relieve labor pain.

Background

This study was performed to examine the usefulness of prenatal yoga practices in mitigating labor pain.

Method

An extensive search of electronic databases was done, including Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase. Those randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included that assessed the impact of prenatal yoga on labor pain management. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the primary endpoint measured was the intensity of pain, as assessed through validated questionnaires.

Utilizing risk-of-bias evaluation tool developed by Cochrane Collaboration, the methodological quality of studies was determined. To estimate the effect size, standardized mean differences (SMDs) were estimated with a 95% confidence interval (CI) using a random-effects model in R software.

Result

The analysis incorporated eight studies involving 576 pregnant women aged between 14 and 40 years. Prenatal yoga effectively diminished labor pain (SMD: −1.34), although significant heterogeneity was observed among the studies (I2=73%).

Conclusion

Prenatal yoga holds promise as an intervention in the field of obstetrics for mitigating the intensity of labor pain. Nevertheless, further randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes are required for validating the outcomes of this meta-analysis.