Yoga in the NICU for Parents: A Pilot Study on Reducing Stress in the NICU

Objective Explore the effect of a 6-week online program of yogic breathing, meditation, and gentle postures for parents of infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Study Design From October 2021 to October 2023, we conducted a two-center pilot study of yoga for NICU parents. We assigned consented parents of NICU inpatients to receive yoga classes (YG) and/or usual care (UC) for parent support within 14 days of admission to the NICU. Self-directed yoga sessions were completed using an online platform. UC included parental support as practiced in each NICU and served as a control group. Primary outcomes were assessed at the study entrance, midpoint, and conclusion using the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS: NICU) and the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) in English and Spanish. Results A total of n = 51 parents (71%) mothers, were allocated using parallel assignment to UC (n = 28, 55%) or YG (n = 23, 45%). A total of n = 39 (76%) parents completed the classes to the midpoint of the study and n = 33 (65%) completed all 6 weeks of the study. There were no differences in baseline characteristics for parents or infants between groups. Average participation in the online yoga materials was 3 hours and 45 minutes per parent. A significant decrease in NICU-related parent stress emerged for all PSS: NICU subscales and total PSS: NICU scores for parents assigned to YG between enrollment and the midpoint of the study. Neither parents in UC nor YG approached thresholds indicating disorders of the parent-infant relationship as assessed by the PBQ. Conclusion When initiated early, an online, asynchronous yoga intervention designed for parents may reduce NICU parent stress. Key Points Yoga may reduce stress and enhance emotional health for parents of critically ill newborns. Virtual and self-directed mindfulness interventions for parents are feasible in the NICU environment. Sustaining parental wellness over an extended NICU hospitalization is challenging.