"Sleep on side": Awareness and anxiety around sleeping position during late pregnancy

Danielle L Wilson; Dwayne L Mann; Irene Szollosi; Leonie Callaway; Alka Kothari; Philip Terrill

doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102121

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"Sleep on side": Awareness and anxiety around sleeping position during late pregnancy

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

"Sleep on side": Awareness and anxiety around sleeping position during late pregnancy

Danielle L Wilson, Dwayne L Mann, Irene Szollosi, Leonie Callaway, Alka Kothari and Philip Terrill

Women and Birth, Vol.38(6), pp.1-6

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102121

PMID: 41100973

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Abstract

supine

sleep quality

overnight

stillbirth

mental health

Background The “Sleep on Side” policy was recently introduced in Australian antenatal clinics to reduce the risk of late stillbirth associated with going-to-sleep on the back. Aim To assess knowledge of side sleeping recommendations in pregnancy and explore feelings of anxiety in relation to this policy, and how these feelings may impact sleep. Methods Cross-sectional study of sleep position measured for seven nights between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. Participants completed a sleep diary each morning, and at the end of the week completed a survey regarding knowledge and anxiety around sleeping position. Findings Sleep position data was collected in 80 participants, with 43 participants completing anxiety surveys. Almost all participants (95 %) reported receiving side sleeping advice during pregnancy, the most common source being their antenatal care provider. Twenty-three percent of women reported “moderate” or “very much” anxiety around their sleeping position or waking on their back overnight. Anxiety towards sleeping position was associated with self-reported supine sleep (p < .001), and use of additional pillows to support behind the back (p < .001). Overall self-reported sleep quality was not affected by anxiety, apart from alertness upon awakening (p = .001). Discussion In this cohort, the Sleep on Side policy has been disseminated widely with women understanding the rationale for encouraging a safe sleeping position. While many women receive this advice with minimal worry, almost a quarter of women may experience anxiety that may potentially affect their sleeping behaviour. Conclusion Advice on sleeping position should be carefully balanced with potential harms to maternal sleep and mental health.

Details

Title: "Sleep on side": Awareness and anxiety around sleeping position during late pregnancy
Authors: Danielle L Wilson (Corresponding Author) - Prince Charles Hospital
Dwayne L Mann - The University of Queensland
Irene Szollosi - Prince Charles Hospital
Leonie Callaway - Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
Alka Kothari - Redcliffe Hospital
Philip Terrill - The University of Queensland
Publication details: Women and Birth, Vol.38(6), pp.1-6
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102121
ISSN: 1878-1799
PMID: 41100973
Copyright note: © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Australian College of Midwives. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Grants: Deep learning and physiology based approach to derive and link obstructive sleep apnoea phenotypes and symptomatology, 2001729, National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - NHMRC
Revolution of sleep diagnostics and personalized health care based on digital diagnostics and therapeutics with health data integration, 2007001, National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - NHMRC
Grant note: This study was funded by a Metro North Health Collaborative Grant CRG-413–2022 (DW).
Organisation Unit: Thompson Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991219791202621
Output Type: Journal article

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