miscarriage, Australian research has found. The study, known as the
Sydney Still-birth Study, looked at the pregnancies of 295 women from
eight hospitals around Australia.
The five-year study found that women who sleep on their backs are six
times more likely to have a stillborn baby.
Lead researcher Dr Adrienne Gordon, from Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred
Hospital, said previous research had suggested prolonged periods in
this position restricted blood flow to the baby. It's thought that
sleeping on the right side or on the back reduces blood flow through a
major vein from the legs to the heart, which affects the supply to the
womb.
The researchers added it was important that women who are currently
pregnant 'don't become alarmed if they sometimes sleep on their back'.
Experts have pointed out previously that three-quarters of pregnant
women sleep mostly on the left side – higher than the rate in women
who are not pregnant. This may suggest they instinctively choose a
sleeping position that works best for baby.
10% of stillborn babies have some kind of abnormality, and other
possible causes include problems with the mother's health or problems
with the placenta, which links the baby's blood supply to the
mother's.
Still-birth Foundation Australia, which funded Dr Gordon's work, said
the study was unique as it looked exclusively at women who were more
than 32 weeks pregnant.
'It's in this later stage of pregnancy that the largest proportion of
stillbirths occur,' director Emma McLeod says. 'For around 40% of
stillbirths after 32 weeks, they are otherwise perfectly healthy
babies and there is no medical explanation as to why they died.'
In addition to sleep position, significant risk factors for
still-birth included how much the baby moved and whether it was the
size it should be for its age.
'We found an association with decreased movements and stillborn
babies,' Dr Gordon said.
On the other hand, in women with healthy pregnancies who had a live
birth, the frequency and strength of the babies' movements actually
increased later in the pregnancy.
Dr Gordon added: 'This may de-bunk the myth that it's normal for a
baby's movement to slow down at the end of pregnancy. We didn't find
that at all.'
Emma Laing, midwifery manager, said: 'Should women have any concerns
or feel their babies' movements have decreased, they should contact
their midwife.'
Last year a University of Auckland study found mothers who slept on
their back or right-hand side on the night before giving birth were
twice as likely to have a stillborn child compared with those who
slept on their left.
But the researchers cautioned pregnant women not to be over-concerned
by the finding. 'It was an observational study, not one that can show
cause and effect – all it does is show an association,' said lead
researcher Tomasina Stacey.
Janet Scott, of the Still-birth and Neonatal Death Society charity,
said sleeping position could 'play a part in well-being'. After-all,
she added, mothers-to-be are 'encouraged to lie on their left for
ante-nat al appointments' to increase blood flow.
A stillborn baby is a baby born dead after 24 weeks of pregnancy. If
the baby dies before 24 completed weeks, it is known as a late
miscarriage. Culled from Daily Health
Have a nice weekend Y ! Readers !Be social click share to friends!
Thanks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!