The Effect of Prenatal Gentle Yoga on Maternal-Fetal Attachment among First-time Expectant Mothers in Indonesia

Maternal-fetal attachment is one of the several psychological processes during pregnancy that builds the relationship between a mother and her unborn child. It seems that Prenatal Gentle Yoga (PGY) promotes wellbeing during pregnancy. However, no study has evaluated the effect of PGY on maternal-fetal attachment in Indonesia. This study aimed to measure the effect of PGY on maternal-fetal attachment among first-time expectant mothers.

This interventional study, was conducted from July-August 2018 in Central Java Province, Indonesia, compared maternal-fetal attachment among 130 primigravidae women who did (n=65) and did not (n=65) practice PGY. Participants were 20 to 35 years old, between 32 and 42 weeks of gestation, with normal singleton pregnancies and no obstetric complications as well as no history of psychological disorders which recruited with convenience sampling. The intervention group participated in eight or more hours of PGY classes (a minimum of six, 90-minute, once-weekly sessions). The control group did not do yoga. Women completed a demographic questionnaire and the Prenatal Attachment Inventory, analyzed with SPSS 20.0. Independent samples t-test and hierarchical multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data.

Prenatal Gentle Yoga increased maternal-fetal attachment scores among participants who attended eight or more hours of classes compared to those who did not (P=0.001). Educational level and participation in yoga classes were the strongest predictors of maternal-fetal attachment (R2=.142).

Practicing PGY can increase maternal-fetal attachment. Midwives could recommend PGY to pregnant women in the routine antenatal care in Indonesia and around the world.