Maternal sleep during pregnancy and poor fetal outcomes: A scoping review of the literature with meta-analysis

Abstract

There is a wealth of evidence to say that sleep impacts maternal health during pregnancy, however, little has been published on fetal health and maternal sleep. This scoping review summarises current literature on maternal sleep including sleep disordered breathing, sleep quality, sleep duration and supine sleep position, as these relate to fetal outcomes specifically birth weight, growth, preterm birth and stillbirth. An overall interpretation of the studies evaluated shows that events occurring during maternal sleep such as obstructive sleep apnea, sleep disruption and sleep position may have a negative effect on the fetus resulting in altered growth, gestational length and even death. These effects are biologically and physically plausible. In conclusion, there is limited and often conflicting information on maternal sleep and fetal outcomes. However, existing evidence suggests that this is an important area for future research. This area is ripe for investigation if there is to be reduction in the physical, emotional, and financial burden of poor fetal outcomes related to maternal sleep.