Introduction: In the modern world, medical science is constantly evolving and advancing, allowing for the discovery and development of new options to alleviate problems during pregnancy and childbirth. One of these options is yoga. Yoga is an increasingly popular practice that is often recommended to pregnant women because of its many benefits. It is important that midwives are familiar with the different yoga techniques and, if necessary, trained in their practice. Aim: The aim of this thesis is to identify and present the advantages and disadvantages of yoga in pregnancy; how yoga practice affects the incidence of maternal or fetal/neonatal complications and how it affects perinatal outcomes through a literature review. Methods: The literature search was conducted from January 2024 to June 2024 and the literature was retrieved from 9 different databases. Results: The results showed that prenatal yoga can help reduce common pregnancy problems such as back and pelvic pain, effectively reduce blood pressure in mild hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. It can also improve fetal growth in utero, induce labour less often, shorten labour. Pregnancies are less painful and result in fewer emergency caesarean sections. It also has a beneficial effect on blood sugar control in pregnant women with gestational diabetes, improves the mental state of pregnant women and positively affects the sexuality of pregnant women. Discussion and conclusion: Several studies have shown that yoga has a positive impact on the psycho-physical well-being of the pregnant woman, can help create a better environment for the growth and development of the fetus and contribute to a more harmonious childbirth experience. Although the data on the benefits of yoga is promising, there is no guarantee that it will necessarily lead to an easier and faster birth. Every woman and every pregnancy is unique and the experience of childbirth is highly individual. Additionally, there is a consensus that physical activity for women before pregnancy, including yoga, can have a positive impact on the birth experience. This means that a continuous practice of yoga before pregnancy can serve to prepare the body and mind for the birthing process.
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