Prenatal yoga for stress reduction: results from the FELICITy-2 quasi-randomized controlled trial

Prolonged maternal stress during pregnancy can adversely affect offspring development. This study evaluated the efficacy of an integrative prenatal yoga program, combining Yoga Hatha and Yoga Nidra, in reducing maternal stress levels during pregnancy and childbirth. A prospective quasi-randomized controlled trial was conducted at the TUM University Hospital, Munich, from December 2022 to June 2024. Pregnant women between 12 + 0 and 20 + 0 weeks of gestation with elevated stress levels (Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) ≥ 19) were eligible. 28 participants were included in the final analysis, with 14 assigned to a yoga intervention group and 14 to a control group receiving standard prenatal care. Stress was assessed via PSS-10, the Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (PDQ), and hair cortisol concentrations at baseline, during pregnancy, and postpartum. Both groups showed significant declines in PSS-10, PDQ, and cortisol over time. Improvements were slightly greater in the yoga group, but differences were not statistically significant. By integrating subjective and objective measures, this study provided insights into stress patterns during pregnancy. While the structured yoga program did not produce significant group differences, it may represent a meaningful and practical approach to prenatal stress reduction. Larger, more diverse studies are warranted. Registry: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS), TRN: DRKS00037529, Registration date: 24 July 2025.