ISLAMABAD- A New Zealand study has suggested that sleeping on the left side during late pregnancy could help women avoid the risk of stillbirth.

Researchers from the University of Auckland compared 155 women who had late stillbirths with 310 who had healthy pregnancies.

Sleeping on the right side doubled the risk of left-sided sleepers (but only to almost four in 1,000).

“There are many factors which are linked to stillbirth including obesity, increasing maternal age, ethnicity, congenital anomalies and placental conditions,” stated Daghni Rajasingam of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

He added, “This small-scale study looks at another possible factor. However, more research is needed into sleep patterns before any firm conclusions over sleeping positions can be made. In the meantime, women should speak to their midwives if they are concerned.”