Yoga in the NICU for Parents: A Pilot Study on Reducing Stress in the NICU

Explore the effect of a 6-week online program of yogic breathing, meditation, and gentle postures for parents of infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).From October 2021 to October 2023, we conducted a two-center pilot study of yoga for NICU parents. We assigned consented parents of NICU inpatients to receive yoga classes (YG) and/or usual care (UC) for parent support within 14 days of admission to the NICU. Self-directed yoga sessions were completed using an online platform. UC included parental support as practiced in each NICU and served as a control group. Primary outcomes were assessed at the study entrance, midpoint, and conclusion using the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS: NICU) and the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) in English and Spanish.A total of <i>n</i> = 51 parents (71%) mothers, were allocated using parallel assignment to UC (<i>n</i> = 28, 55%) or YG (<i>n</i> = 23, 45%). A total of <i>n</i> = 39 (76%) parents completed the classes to the midpoint of the study and <i>n</i> = 33 (65%) completed all 6 weeks of the study. There were no differences in baseline characteristics for parents or infants between groups. Average participation in the online yoga materials was 3 hours and 45 minutes per parent. A significant decrease in NICU-related parent stress emerged for all PSS: NICU subscales and total PSS: NICU scores for parents assigned to YG between enrollment and the midpoint of the study. Neither parents in UC nor YG approached thresholds indicating disorders of the parent-infant relationship as assessed by the PBQ.When initiated early, an online, asynchronous yoga intervention designed for parents may reduce NICU parent stress. · Yoga may reduce stress and enhance emotional health for parents of critically ill newborns.. · Virtual and self-directed mindfulness interventions for parents are feasible in the NICU environment.. · Sustaining parental wellness over an extended NICU hospitalization is challenging..