Efficacy of yoga on pregnancy outcome

METHODS: Three hundred thirty five women attending antenatal clinics were enrolled between 18 and 20 weeks of pregnancy in a prospective, matched, observational study. Women were matched for age, parity, body weight, and Doppler velocimetry scores of umbilical and uterine arteries. Yoga practices, including physical postures, breathing, and meditation were practiced by the yoga group one hour daily, from the date of entry into the study until delivery. The control group walked 30 minutes twice a day during the study period. RESULTS: The number of babies with birth weight > or = 2500 grams was significantly higher in the yoga group. Preterm labor was significantly lower in the yoga group. Complications such as isolated intrauterine growth retardation and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) with associated IUGR were also significantly lower in the yoga group. There were no significant adverse effects noted in the yoga group.