Prone positioning in NICU: Effects on cerebral and cardiovascular physiology

Sleeping position is an important aspect of the care of preterm babies. Most preterm babies in the hospital are placed in the prone position (on tummy) to sleep as this improves breathing. But, are there risks of tummy sleeping in preterm babies? This thesis investigated the effects on the brain, heart and lungs. In babies born very early, I found that tummy sleeping restricts blood flow to the brain, and impairs regulation of heart rate and blood pressure when compared to sleeping on their back. Therefore, caution should be applied when using the tummy sleeping position in extremely preterm babies.