Tele-Antenatal Yoga Enhances Maternal Well-Being and Birth Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Urban Bangladesh

Background and AimAntenatal yoga enhances physical fitness, reduces stress, and promotes emotional stability, yet its adoption in Bangladesh remains limited. Rise of urbanization is increasing stress, and physical inactivity among pregnant mothers. The aim of the study is to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of tele-antenatal yoga on maternal psychological well-being, labor and fetal outcomes among pregnant women in urban Bangladesh.Materials and MethodsA two-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted with 99 pregnant women (Yoga=50, Control=49) allocated from Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh. The yoga group had tele-yoga sessions thrice weekly, while the control group followed standard antenatal care. Psychological outcomes were assessed at 20 and 36 weeks while labor and fetal outcomes were recorded at delivery. Group comparison used chi-square and t-tests, between-group analysis by Mann-Whitney U test, and within-group by Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.ResultsThe yoga group had higher rate of vaginal deliveries (55.1% vs. 26.0%, p<0.005) and improved psychological well-being with reduced stress (36.6%), depression (52.53%), and anxiety (35.51%), along with improved sleep quality (16.37%) and quality of life (30.64%) compared to control group (p<0.001). Pain perception was also lower among yoga participants (53.19%) comparing to control group (p<0.001). No significant differences were observed in fetal outcomes.ConclusionTele-antenatal yoga alleviated pregnancy-induced stress, anxiety, depression, and pain, while enhancing sleep and well-being, potentially promoting natural birth in urban Bangladesh. Integrating it into antenatal care may improve maternal health and minimize medical interventions. Future research should examine postpartum benefits across diverse socioeconomic conditions.