Potential Role of Yoga in Improving Risk Factors of Pregnancy Complications Among Pregnant Women with Abnormal First Trimester Uterine Artery Doppler Ultrasound: A Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND

The psycho-physiological processes of pregnancy and labor can bring happiness to many families, yet unexpected anguish and suffering to some. Abnormal first trimester ultrasound is reported in a significant number of pregnancies, and it is associated with increased risk of pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. Yoga is a traditional mind-body intervention that has a positive role in pregnancy. To our knowledge, no study has assessed yoga therapy's role in pregnant women with first trimester abnormal uterine artery doppler ultrasound.

METHODOLOGY: In this randomized controlled trial, 80 pregnant women with first trimester Abnormal uterine artery doppler ultrasound will be randomly assigned to a yoga or a control group. Women in the control group will receive standard antenatal care yoga and the yoga group will receive a 60-minute yoga session every alternate day in a week, in addition to standard antenatal care, for consecutive 3 months. Both groups will be assessed for mental health measures (stress, depression, and quality of life), sleep quality, and biochemical measures (pregnancy associated plasma protein-A and placental growth factor), at the baseline and after 3 months. Data will be analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 21.

RESULTS

Data will be presented as mean and standard deviation. Pre-post changes within the group and between the group will be assessed.

CONCLUSION

This study offers a protocol to study the impact of yoga on mental health measures, sleep quality, and biochemical measures among women with first trimester abnormal uterine artery doppler ultrasound.