A position modification device for the prevention of supine sleep during
pregnancy: a randomised crossover trial.
Abstract
Objective: to assess the effectiveness and acceptability of a
pillow-like position modification device to reduce supine sleep during
late pregnancy, and to determine the impacts on the severity of
sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and fetal wellbeing. Design: Randomised
cross-over study Setting and population: Individuals in the third
trimester of pregnancy receiving antenatal care at a tertiary maternity
hospital in Australia. Methods: Participants used their own pillow for a
control week and an intervention pillow for a week overnight, in
randomized order. Sleep position and total sleep time for each night of
both weeks was objectively monitored, with a sleep study and fetal heart
rate monitoring performed on the last night of each week. Main Outcome
Measures: Percentage of sleep time in the supine position,
apnoea-hypopnoea index, fetal heart rate decelerations and birthweight.
Results: Forty-one individuals were randomized with data collected on 35
participants over 469 nights. There was no difference in percentage of
total sleep time in the supine position overnight between the control or
intervention pillow week (13.0% [6.1, 25.5] v 16.0% [5.6,
27.2], p = .81), and no difference in the severity of SDB or fetal
heart rate decelerations across weeks. However, increased supine sleep
was significantly related to a higher apnea-hypopnea index (r
s = .37, p = .003), lower birthweight (r
s = -.45, p = .007) and lower customised birthweight
centile (r s = -.45, p = .006). The proportion of supine
sleep each night of the week varied widely both within and across
participants, despite awareness of side-sleeping recommendations.
Conclusions: The adoption of a pillow designed to discourage supine
sleep was not effective in late pregnancy, with women spending an
average of one hour per night supine. Supine sleep was associated with
SDB and lower birthweight. Alternative devices should be investigated,
incorporating lessons learnt from this study to inform trials of supine
sleep minimisation in pregnancy. Clinical Trial Registration
Number – ACTRN12620000371998 (Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials
Registry)