Introduction: Pregnancy represents a period of physiological stress associated with the risk of developing depression and anxiety, which can lead to numerous complications during pregnancy and postpartum. Depression during pregnancy can affect bonding with the newborn and increases the risk of postpartum depression. Prenatal yoga is emerging as a safe and effective alternative to pharmacological treatment, helping to reduce the negative symptoms of depression and anxiety. By combining physical postures, breathing techniques and meditation, it contributes to the overall physical and mental health of pregnant women and positively impacts fetal development. Purpose: The aim of this thesis is to present the effectiveness of prenatal yoga and its impact on the mental health of pregnant women, based on a literature review. Methods: The literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Science Direct databases. Selected studies were five randomized controlled trials and one pilot study in English that included healthy pregnant women experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety during pregnancy. Results: The literature review included 6 studies that met the inclusion criteria. A total of 237 women participated in the study. In all studies, the exercise program included yoga adapted for pregnant women, while in two studies, attention was paid to strengthening the pelvic floor muscles in addition to yoga. In all six studies, it was shown that women who practiced prenatal yoga improved their mental health. Discussion and conclusion: Research has shown a positive impact of practicing prenatal yoga on the mental health of pregnant women, reducing stress, depression and anxiety, but some studies have certain disadvantages, such as small sample size, different yoga schedule and exercise intensity, which makes it difficult to compare results. Self-assessment questionnaires can also lead to bias. Nevertheless, prenatal yoga has proven to be a promising intervention to improve the mental health of pregnant women, but additional, more uniform, and more extensive research is needed for more reliable findings. Uniform yoga programmes and larger sample sizes would contribute to greater consistency and reliability of results. In addition, stricter control group rules would improve the comparability of results between groups. However, it is safe to say that incorporating prenatal yoga into the comprehensive care of pregnant women helps to cope with emotional challenges, considering their needs and desires.
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