From week 28 to birthStrong research
Go to sleep on your side from week 28
Either side is fine. If you wake up on your back, just turn over.
Why It Matters (Clinical Guidance)
- Going to sleep on the back in late pregnancy was linked to about 2.6 times the risk of stillbirth.
- About 1 in 17 late stillbirths in the study were linked to back-sleeping.
- Waking up on your back is normal and not harmful. Just turn over.
Respectful Message for Elders & Family
Send on WhatsApp“Maa, the doctors now advise that from the seventh month I should go to sleep on my side, not on my back. It lowers the risk to the baby. Please remind me if you see me lying flat.”
Primary Citation: Heazell et al., EClinicalMedicine 2019 (851 stillbirths, 2,257 controls)
Last checked: October 2026 • Medical review panel forming