The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Yoga During Pregnancy on Maternal Psychological and Physical Distress

  1. Amy E. Beddoe1,
  2. Chin-Po Paul Yang2,
  3. Holly Powell Kennedy3,
  4. Sandra J. Weiss4,
  5. Kathryn A. Lee5

Article first published online: 12 MAY 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1552-6909.2009.01023.x

Issue

Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing

Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing

Volume 38, Issue 3, pages 310–319, May/June 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Beddoe, A. E., Paul Yang, C.-P., Kennedy, H. P., Weiss, S. J. and Lee, K. A. (2009), The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Yoga During Pregnancy on Maternal Psychological and Physical Distress. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 38: 310–319. doi: 10.1111/j.1552-6909.2009.01023.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    RN, PhD, is a nursing writer for CINAHL and faculty member, School of Nursing, Walden University, Baltimore, MD.

  2. 2

    MD, PhD, is associate clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco.

  3. 3

    CNM, PhD, FACNM, FAAN, is associate professor and coordinator, Nurse-Midwifery Specialty, Department of Family Health Care Nursing, University of California, San Francisco.

  4. 4

    PhD, DNSc, RN, FAAN, is the Robert C. and Delphine Wentland Eschbach Endowed Chair in Mental Health Nursing and professor in the Department of Community Health Systems, University of California, San Francisco.

  5. 5

    RN, PhD, FAAN, is professor and Livingston Chair in the School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco.

*Correspondence Amy E. Beddoe, RN, PhD, School of Nursing, Walden University, 155 Fifth Avenue South, Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55401. abeddoe@baymoon.com

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 12 MAY 2009
  2. Article first published online: 12 MAY 2009
  3. Accepted February 2009

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Keywords:

  • pregnancy;
  • stress;
  • anxiety;
  • cortisol;
  • yoga;
  • mindfulness;
  • prenatal distress

ABSTRACT

Objective: To examine the feasibility and level of acceptability of a mindful yoga intervention provided during pregnancy and to gather preliminary data on the efficacy of the intervention in reducing distress.

Design: Baseline and post-treatment measures examined state and trait anxiety, perceived stress, pain, and morning salivary cortisol in a single treatment group. Postintervention data also included participant evaluation of the intervention.

Setting: The 7 weeks mindfulness-based yoga group intervention combined elements of Iyengar yoga and mindfulness-based stress reduction.

Participants: Sixteen healthy pregnant nulliparous women with singleton pregnancies between 12 and 32 weeks gestation at the time of enrollment.

Methods: Outcomes were evaluated from pre- to postintervention and between second and third trimesters with repeated measures analysis of variance and post hoc nonparametric tests.

Results: Women practicing mindful yoga in their second trimester reported significant reductions in physical pain from baseline to postintervention compared with women in the third trimester whose pain increased. Women in their third trimester showed greater reductions in perceived stress and trait anxiety.

Conclusions: Preliminary evidence supports yoga's potential efficacy in these areas, particularly if started early in the pregnancy.

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