New research to combat stillbirth

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Wed, 15 Jun 2011 6:26p.m.

New research could lower the number of stillbirths

New research could lower the number of stillbirths

By Kim Chisnall

An Auckland University study has found that pregnant women who sleep on their left side lower their risk of stillbirth by around 50 percent. 

The researchers say it could be a significant development in reducing the risk of stillbirth, but they need funding to take it further.

400 babies are stillborn in New Zealand every year, and why is often a mystery.

The study found for women who slept on their left side, the stillbirth risk was just under 2 per 1000 births – whereas the risk almost doubled to 4 per 1000 births for women who slept in any other position.

But the researchers warn this is the first stillbirth case control study in the world - and only 465 women took part – so more work is needed.

Frustratingly for the report's authors they don't have the money to test their research - the Government's health research council turned them down.

They are currently looking for alternative funding to confirm what could be a very exciting breakthrough. 

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Comments

17 Jun 2011 08:45a.m.

Ngaire Wenzlick wrote:

@Mike Remember this was published in a major, international peer-reviewed journal that has an educated subscriber base of tens of thousands of people, including statisticians. This is a statistically significant result, even accounting for the small numbers, and it has arisen from local research. We should be proud that NZ is doing this work and I am glad TV3 is reporting it. We should be supporting NZ researchers to investigate this further. If proven to be a true effect, this basic public health message could save more babies than the "Back to sleep" message for preventing cot-death!

16 Jun 2011 12:46p.m.

Mike wrote:

So... in a study with less than 500 participants, there were two stillbirths in one group and one in the other? Seriously, what's the error bar on that "50%" number? How can NZ researchers expect to be taken seriously if they pump up a study this size into a major news story?

15 Jun 2011 06:42p.m.

David wrote:

With falling attendances in both Catholic & Anglican communities surely an interdenominational cathedral in Chch is common sense. After all, Catholics did attend a large Catholic celebration in an Anglican cathedral recently and there were no altercations