During pregnancy women may need or choose to undergo physical therapies such as physiotherapy, massage or osteopathy. Recent findings from studies of mothers who had a stillbirth in late pregnancy found that the position in which women went to sleep in was linked to stillbirth, as was the frequency of day time naps. This link is thought to be due to changes in mother's blood flow from her heart when lying flat leading to changes in the amount of oxygen going to her baby. This raise concerns that spending extended periods laid flat could be detrimental to baby's health. However, it is not known whether lying flat for extended periods for physical therapies could also alter a baby's heart rate or levels of oxygen. One small study of 33 women from Brazil found that there were no differences in a mother's heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation or baby's heart rate. But there were changes in mother's breathing rate and systolic blood pressure when a mother laid on her front. All the women reported feeling comfortable lying flat (on a bent surface). However, in this study women only spent 6 minutes in each position which is less than a woman would be expected to spend lying in a position for a session of physical therapy. The investigators plan a study to assess whether using a device to support a prone position (Anna cushion) would be associated with changes in mother's heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate and blood oxygen levels and baby's heart rate. The investigators will also ask about mother's levels of comfort while she is laid in the prone position. The findings of this study will give an indication whether supporting a mother to lie in a prone position for physical therapies is safe and comfortable.
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Maternal cardiac output at Baseline
Timeframe: At baseline
Change in maternal cardiac output
Timeframe: After 30 minutes in prone position