Scientific research has shown that that practicing yoga during pregnancy

improves quality of life and aspects of personal relating during pregnancy,
improves comfort levels and reduces self-reported and observed pain during labour
reduces duration of labour
reduces perceived stress and actual stress levels during labour, and
increases levels of self-confidence and positive outcome expectancy among mothers during labour

(Curtis, Weinrib, and Katz, 2012).

Preparation for Birth

Prenatal yoga can help women to deal with any fears they may have about birth

Pregnancy yoga is an opportunity to teach women about their bodies and the physiological basis behind labour.
This knowledge can help women to trust their own bodies and increase their self-confidence and positive outcome expectancies for birth.
The class is also an opportunity to experience and practice the movements and breathing that can help improve labour experiences.
The more yoga is practiced before labour, the more chance you have of these skills and practices becoming second nature so that during labour women can allow the brain to switch off completely, letting nature take over.
Also, since yoga is a practice of mindfulness in movement, and usually includes breath, meditation and/or relaxation, even a one-off yoga experience should reduce acute stress and anxiety.

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