Effect of Relaxation Programs and Breathing Techniques on Stress Levels of Pregnant Women in Health Centers

Abstract

Pregnancy is a period that is highly vulnerable to increased psychological stress due to hormonal changes, physical discomfort, and psychosocial challenges experienced by expectant mothers. Poorly managed stress can negatively affect maternal health and fetal development, increasing the risk of preeclampsia, preterm labor, and low birth weight. One of the recommended non-pharmacological interventions to reduce stress is the implementation of relaxation programs and breathing techniques. This study aimed to determine the effect of relaxation programs and breathing techniques on the stress levels of pregnant women at Gunung Health Center, Padang Panjang City. A quasi-experimental study with a one-group pretest-posttest design was conducted among 32 second- and third-trimester pregnant women selected through purposive sampling based on predetermined inclusion criteria. Stress levels were assessed using the Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale (PSRS) before and after six sessions of Deep Breath relaxation conducted over two weeks. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Paired Sample T-Test. The mean stress score decreased from 24.6 (moderate stress) before the intervention to 15.8 (mild stress) after the intervention. The statistical analysis showed a significant difference (p = 0.000; p < 0.05), with 78.1% of participants experiencing reduced stress levels. These findings indicate that relaxation programs and breathing techniques are effective in reducing stress among pregnant women and should be integrated into routine antenatal care services to support maternal mental health.