But whether a cause-and-effect relation exists is unclear.
Stillbirth is a major public health problem that has shown little improvement during the last 20 years despite obstetric advancements such as better ultrasound technology. Hypothesizing that maternal–fetal oxygenation and hemodynamics during sleep might play a role in stillbirth risk, investigators in New Zealand analyzed self-reported maternal sleep habits in 155 women who experienced late stillbirths (≥28 weeks' gestation) and 310 women with uncomplicated pregnancies matched by gestational age.
No relation was found between risk for late stillbirth and self-reported snoring or daytime sleepiness. However, women who reported having slept in any position other than on their left sides during the last night of pregnancy were significantly mor…