Sleep Position Study
What was the study about?
Facilitators and barriers to adopting sleep position recommendations during pregnancy
Pregnancy and childbirth are often positive and fulfilling experiences, however for many women ill-health and complications can arise. Some sleeping positions have been associated with certain complications. However, evidence was lacking as to whether this link between sleep position and certain pregnancy outcomes was well known amongst the pregnant population.
This study aimed to help us understand the level of awareness regarding sleep position and pregnancy outcomes amongst women who recently had a baby, and what supports are needed to encourage women to follow recommendations.
It is important to emphasise that this survey was aimed at understanding awareness surrounding sleep position among women. The purpose was solely to gather information on factors that may influence adoption of recommendations.
What was involved?
As part of this study, we invited people to participate in an online survey which asked questions about their knowledge regarding sleep position and their own habits during their pregnancy.
People were eligible to participate if:
- They had been pregnant at any time between June 2022 and the time of survey completion.
- Their baby was born after 28 weeks of pregnancy.
- They were 18 years old or older.
- They had their baby in Ireland.
Who was involved?
Study team
| Dr Tamara Escañuela Sánchez | National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre, UCC; Pregnancy Loss Research Group | Postdoctoral Researcher |
| Dr Karen Matvienko-Sikar | School of Public Health, UCC | Collaborator |
| Professor Keelin O'Donoghue | Pregnancy Loss Research Group | Collaborator |
| Professor Richard Greene | National Perintal Epidemiology Centre, UCC | Collaborator |
Dissemination activities
Journal article
- Escañuela Sánchez T, Corcoran P, Matvienko-Sikar K, Greene R, O'Donoghue K. Understanding maternal sleep position behaviour in the third trimester of pregnancy: A national cross-sectional mixed-methods study. Women and Birth. 2026;39(4):102233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2026.102233.
Study status
Completed: July 2024 to June 2025. Recruitment phase completed in September 2024.
Further information
Please email Dr Tamara Escañuela Sánchez: tamara.escanuelasanchez@ucc.ie
Ethical approval for this study was granted by the Social Research Ethics Committee at University College Cork (Log 2024-131). If you have any concerns about this study, and wish to contact someone independent, you may contact the Social Research Ethics Committee by email: srec@ucc.ie.