Postpartum Yoga Reduces Maternal Stress and Improves Breast Milk Expression in Mothers of Preterm Infants: A Randomized Control Trial.

Abstract

Background: The postpartum period is associated with elevated stress levels that may adversely affect maternal well-being and lactation. Yoga, as a mind-body intervention, has shown promise in stress reduction; however, evidence regarding its effect on lactation outcomes remains limited.
Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured postpartum yoga intervention on perceived stress and milk volume among postpartum mothers.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial with a pre-test and post-test parallel group design was conducted in the postnatal ward and outpatient department of [Hospital/Community Health Center],. Sixty-four postpartum mothers 6–8 weeks after delivery were selected through consecutive sampling and randomized into an experimental group (n=32) and a control group (n=32). The experimental group received standard postpartum care plus structured postpartum yoga for 45–60 minutes per session, five days per week for six weeks. The control group received standard postpartum care alone. Data were collected using a demographic proforma, the Perceived Stress Scale-10, and milk volume measurement by the test-weighing method. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27.0 with paired and independent t-tests. Significance was set at p < 0.05.[City]Results: Both groups were comparable at baseline. The experimental group showed a significant reduction in perceived stress scores from 24.6 ± 3.8 to 15.2 ± 3.1 (p < 0.001), while the control group showed no significant change. Milk volume increased significantly in the experimental group from 412.5 ± 68.4 mL/day to 587.3 ± 74.2 mL/day (p < 0.001). Between-group comparisons revealed significantly greater improvement in both perceived stress (p < 0.001, d = 1.42) and milk volume (p < 0.001, d = 1.28) in the experimental group. Compliance with the intervention was 92.4%, with no adverse events reported.
Conclusion: A six-week structured postpartum yoga intervention is effective in reducing perceived stress and improving milk volume among postpartum mothers. The intervention is safe, feasible, and clinically relevant. Integration of postpartum yoga into routine postnatal care is recommended to enhance maternal psychological well-being and lactation outcomes.