Background Yoga is a popular mind-body medicine frequently recommended to pregnant women. Gaps remain in our understanding of the core components of effective pregnancy yoga programmes. 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. Methods Nine electronic databases were searched: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL, WHOLiS, AMED, ScieLo, ASSIA and Web of Science. Randomised control trials and quasi-experimental studies examining pregnancy yoga interventions were eligible. Covidence was used to screen titles, abstracts, and full-text articles. Outcomes of interest were stress, anxiety, depression, quality of life, labour duration, pain management in labour and mode of birth. The Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias Assessment tool was used to assess methodological quality of studies and GRADE criteria (GRADEpro) evaluated quality of the evidence. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3. Results Of 862 citations retrieved, 31 studies met inclusion criteria. Twenty-nine studies with 2217 pregnant women were included for meta-analysis. Pregnancy yoga interventions reduced anxiety (SMD: -0.91; 95% CI: − 1.49 to − 0.33; p = 0.002), depression (SMD: -0.47; 95% CI: − 0.9 to − 0.04, P = 0.03) and perceived stress (SMD: -1.03; 95% CI: − 1.55 to − 0.52; p < 0.001). Yoga interventions also reduced duration of labour (MD = − 117.75; 95% CI − 153.80 to − 81.71, p < 0.001) and, increased odds of normal vaginal birth (OR 2.58; 95% CI 1.46–4.56, p < 0.001) and tolerance for pain. The quality of evidence (GRADE criteria) was low to very low for all outcomes. Twelve or more yoga sessions delivered weekly/bi-weekly had a statistically significant impact on mode of birth, while 12 or more yoga sessions of long duration (> 60 min) had a statistically significant impact on perceived stress. Conclusion The evidence highlights positive effects of pregnancy yoga on anxiety, depression, perceived stress, mode of birth and duration of labour. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, CRD42019119916. Registered on 11th January 2019.

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Background: The purpose of this review is to systematically examine the reported clinical effectiveness of pregnancy yoga.  The review will use the FITT (frequency, intensity, time/duration and type) principle of physical activity to characterise the different types of yoga interventions that have been evaluated in the included studies.  Studies will be categorised as effectiveness or efficacy studies and this continuum of efficacy versus effectiveness will be incorporated into the full review.  Methods/design: The following electronic databases will be searched using a detailed search strategy: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL, WHOLiS, AMED, ScieLo, ASSIA and Web of Science. Randomised control trials and quasi-experimental studies examining pregnancy yoga and reporting on effect will be included. Titles, abstracts and full articles will be screened by two investigators independently to identify eligible studies.  The Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias Assessment tool will be used to assess study quality.  Quality of the evidence will be evaluated using the GRADE criteria. A standardised data extraction form will be used to extract data. Effect sizes will be estimated using mean differences for continuous outcomes, and relative risks for dichotomous outcome. Where possible, pooling of effect estimates will be done using a random effect model.  The outcomes of interest are quality of life, stress, anxiety, depression, mode of birth, labour duration and pain management in labour. Discussion: This review will synthesise the best available evidence on the effectiveness of yoga during pregnancy and provide valuable high-quality information for clinicians and health policymakers. Findings will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presentation at relevant conference proceedings. The review will make recommendations for the appropriate volume, intensity and type of pregnancy yoga for maximum effect and may have implications for policy and practice relating to pregnancy yoga as an intervention.   Registration: PROSPERO, CRD42019119916.  Registered on 11th January 2019.

The purpose of the proposed review is to systematically Background: examine the clinical effectiveness of pregnancy yoga. The review will use the FITT (frequency, intensity, time/duration and type) principle of physical activity to characterise the different types of yoga interventions that have been evaluated in the included studies.The following electronic databases will be searched Methods/design: using a detailed search strategy: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL, WHOLiS, AMED, ScieLo, ASSIA and Web of Science. Randomised control trials and quasi-experimental studies examining pregnancy yoga will be included. Titles, abstracts and full articles will be screened by two investigators independently to identify eligible studies. The Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias Assessment tool will be used to assess study quality. Quality of the evidence will be evaluated using the GRADE criteria. A standardised data extraction form will be used to extract data. Effect sizes will be estimated using mean differences for continuous outcomes, and relative risks for dichotomous outcome. Where possible, pooling of effect estimates will be done using a random effect model. This review will synthesise the best available evidence on the Discussion: effectiveness of yoga during pregnancy and provide valuable high-quality information for clinicians and health policymakers. Findings will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presentation at relevant conference proceedings. The review will make recommendations for the appropriate volume, intensity and type of pregnancy yoga for maximum effect and may have implications for policy and practice relating to pregnancy yoga as an intervention. PROSPERO, . Registered on 11th Registration: CRD42019119916 January 2019. Abbreviations:FITT -frequency, intensity, time/duration and type; GRADE -Grades of recommendation, assessment, development and evaluation; PRISMA-P -Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis protocols; QoL -Quality of life; RCT -Randomised control trial PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text 4. Yu Y, Zhang S, Wang G, et al.: The combined association of psychosocial stress and chronic hypertension with preeclampsia. Am J Obste Gynecol. 2013; 209(5): 438.e1-438.e12. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | Free Full Text 5. Bershadsky S, Trumpfheller L, Kimble HB, et al.: The effect of prenatal hatha yoga on affect, cortisol and depressive symptoms. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2014; 20(2): 106-113. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | Free Full Text 6. Buss C, Davis EP, Hobel CJ, et al.: Maternal pregnancy-specific anxiety is associated with child executive function at 6-9 years age. Stress. 2011; 14(6): 665-676. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | Free Full Text 7. Grizenko N, Fortier ME, Zadorozny C, et al.: Maternal stress during pregnancy, ADHD symptomatology in children and genotype: gene-environment interaction. J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012; 21(1): 9-15. PubMed Abstract | Free Full Text 8. Hall HR, Jol...