Acute Fetal Response to Prenatal Yoga (TRY)

University of Missouri, Kansas City

Status: Completed

Conditions: Pregnancy

Treatments: Behavioral: Yoga intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02063711

13-941

Details and patient eligibility

About

Prenatal yoga has become a popular means of exercise during pregnancy.

Full description

In 2012, yoga was reported to be practiced by approximately 20 million Americans, out of which 82% are women practitioners. The effects of yoga on the fetus have not been demonstrated. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the acute fetal response to yoga exercises by assessing fetal well-being via ultrasound and non-stress testing among healthy women. The investigators hypothesize that yoga during pregnancy does not have any acute negative effects on fetal behavior as assessed by umbilical artery Dopplers and fetal heart rate or maternal vital signs.

Enrollment: 46 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 45 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Uncomplicated singletons pregnancies
• Gestational age between 28 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks
• No known fetal anomalies
• Women with no prior experience with yoga
• Currently receiving routine prenatal care
• No contraindications to exercise
• Able to read and understand English
• Well dated pregnancy

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant minors less than 18 years of age
• Multiple gestations
• Those patients that have been advised by their doctor not to exercise during this pregnancy (i.e. Vaginal bleeding, history of preterm delivery less than 34 weeks, cervical insufficiency, cerclage in place, placenta previa, any chronic medical conditions)
• Congenital fetal anomalies or intrauterine growth restriction
• Cigarette smokers
• Chronic narcotic dependence

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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46 participants in 2 patient groups

Yoga Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

A 1-hour yoga session will take place with guided instruction provided by a registered yoga instructor. The class includes a warm up period of 5 minutes, which includes sitting with the eyes closed and slowly breathing through the nose. After which the participant will perform a series of yoga postures in coordination with her breathing for approximately 45 minutes. The last 10 minutes of class will encompass a semi-recumbent relaxation period. This is a one time intervention.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Yoga intervention

Control group

No Intervention group

Description:

In order to control for 1 hour worth of time, the participants in the control group will be given a 1 hour Power Point presentation on the benefits of exercise and yoga during pregnancy.