Side Sleep in Pregnancy to Reduce Stillbirth Risk

Pregnant women are beingencouraged to sleep on their side to avoid stillbirth in a new Australia-wideeducation campaign, following evidence showing sleep position can halve therisk of a late-pregnancy stillbirth.

The NSW Government provided$100,000 in funding to the Stillbirth Foundation Australia to develop materialson side sleeping, as part of the new Safer Baby program being launched by thefederal government today.

Senior Clinical Advisor inObstetrics, Professor Michael Nicholl said NSW Health is committed to reducingpreventable stillbirth rates and supporting clinicians to raise awarenessamongst pregnant women.

“On Pregnancy and Infant LossRemembrance Day, it is important to acknowledge the loss and suffering offamilies who have experienced a stillbirth, and to continue our efforts toprevent future stillbirths through improved education and care,” ProfessorNicholl said.

“Stillbirth after 28 weeks ofpregnancy affects about one in every 500 babies. The evidence shows that womenwho go to sleep on their side from 28 weeks of pregnancy can halve the risk ofstillbirth, compared to going to sleep on their back.”

Senior Staff SpecialistNeonatologist, Professor Adrienne Gordon said that from 28 weeks of pregnancy,women should go to sleep on their side at night, after waking up throughout thenight and when having daytime naps.

“The going-to-sleep position isthe one held longest during the night so women should not be concerned if theywake up on their back, but should simply roll back onto their side. Either theleft or right side is fine,” Professor Gordon said.

“After 28 weeks of pregnancy,lying on your back presses on major blood vessels which can reduce both theblood flow to the woman’s womb and oxygen supply to the baby.”

NSW is a key partner with otherstates and territories and the Stillbirth Centre for Research Excellence in theSafer Baby program.

The NSW Government is investing$170 million in additional health services for families as part of the 2019-20NSW Budget.

The new Side Sleep resources, including Aboriginal and non-Aboriginalversions of posters and flyers for clinicians and pregnant women are availableto download: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/kidsfamilies/MCFhealth/maternity/pages/reducing-stillbirth.aspx​

/Public Release. View in full here.