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Sleep position, fetal growth restriction, and late-pregnancy stillbirth: the Sydney stillbirth study

A study aimed at identifying potentially modifiable risk factors for late-pregnancy stillbirth.

  • Brief

    Identifying and investigating the potentially modifiable risk factors that account for late-pregnancy stillbirth. 

  • Background

    Maternal age, obesity and smoking account for one third of stillbirths but smoking is the only factor that can be realistically changed during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to identify potentially modifiable risk factors for late-pregnancy stillbirth.

    “There are around 2.6 million stillbirths globally per year.”

  • Key takeaways

    The results of this study suggest that supine sleep position may be an additional risk for late-pregnancy stillbirth in an already vulnerable or compromised baby. The clinical management of suspected fetal growth restriction should be investigated further as a means of reducing late stillbirth. 

  • Key contributors

    Adrienne Gordon, FRACP, PhD ‘
    Camille Raynes-Greenow, MPH, PhD
    Diana Bond, RN
    Jonathan Morris, FRANZCOG, PhD
    William Rawlinson, FRACP, PhD
    Heather Jeffery, FRACP, PhD 

  • Full report

    Read the full report here.

  • Funding amount

    $75,000