Meditation and Yoga in pregnancy: maternal and fetal impact

Background: Yoga is a practice which amalgamates the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual aspects of the human body through physical postures(asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), concentration and meditation (dharana and dhyana). Evaluation of databases suggests a positive role of yoga in pregnancies associated with depression, anxiety and lumbosacral pain and also in reducing antepartum complications and pain score during labor. These beneficial effects of yoga are suggested but more systematic researches are required to validate it. With the background of above researches, we undertook the study to evaluate the effect of prenatal yoga and meditation on maternal and fetal outcomes. Aim of the study was to determine the effect of antenatal meditation and yoga on obstetric and fetal outcome. Methods: This was a prospective randomized trial conducted in the antenatal OPD of the institute. Sixty primigravida women with low risk pregnancy between 18 to 26 weeks gestation were included in the trial.They were randomly divided into two equal groups;  interventional group underwent meditation and yoga sessions of 30 minutes twice in a week till delivery. Obstetric outcomes including gestational age, antepartum and intrapartum complications, cord blood cortisol levels at delivery and neonatal outcomes were recorded. Results: Thirteen women went post-dated as compared to 3 in the interventional group which was statistically significant (p=0.0003). APGAR scores of neonates in the interventional group showed a highly significant improvement with p=0.0013 as compared to the control group. Cord blood cortisol levels were higher than 10 ng/ml in 16 women in the control group compared to 7 in the group who performed yoga and meditation with p=0.01. NICU admissions were significantly more (p=0.002) in the control group. Conclusions: Meditation and yoga during pregnancy improves maternal and neonatal outcomes

India: Kal, Aaj Aur Kal

All across the board growth forecasts for this year are being revised downwards. What has changed in the last few months? http://www.indicus.neteconomic growth, India, South Asia, inflation, growth forecasts

Revisiting depot medroxyprogesterone

Background: Injectable contraceptives form an important part of method mix of effective contraceptives used by women worldwide. Depot medroxyprogesterone (DMPA) is a long acting contraceptive which is safe, reversible and does not require any user action to maintain its efficacy.Methods: This was a prospective questionnaire based study conducted on 84 women who were acceptors of DMPA. The women were interviewed by the same health worker in the local language using a preset questionnaire which included questions regarding the demographic profile, contraceptive choices and positive and negative experiences related to usage of Injection DMPA.Results: Majority of the women were multiparous, between 25-30 years and were housewives. 19% women had started depo-provera after having one child while 87% started DMPA after their second child. The most common source of information about the contraceptive method was health care worker in 51.1% followed by friends in 30.9% and media in 17.8%. 53 women in the study group chose injection DMPA as it was convenient and safe. The most common side effect seen was amenorrhea followed by irregular bleeding, weight gain and pain abdomen. 91.6% women were satisfied with it and would recommend it to other women.Conclusions: Addressing the unmet need of family planning requires not only recruiting new clients but also assuring that women continue to use the contraceptive. Method related myths and concerns are an important reason for high discontinuation rates which need to be addressed during counselling sessions