Effect of Maternal Rest and Resting Positions on Amniotic Fluid

Effect of Maternal Rest and Resting Positions on Amniotic Fluid: A Randomized Prospective Study

Maternal rest in left lateral decubitus position increases fetal urine production rate which in turn increases the estimated amniotic fluid volume (AFV) in uncomplicated pregnancies. The estimated AFV increases faster at initial periods, particularly during the first, second and third 15 minute periods of the maternal rest in the left lateral position. Although at each successive 15 minute period the estimated AFV continues to increase, the increase rate is always less in the following period. The AFV increase curve resembles the characteristics of a saturation curve and finally the estimated AFV increase stops approximately at the second hour.

Although maternal rest in left lateral decubitus position increased the estimated AFV in the previous studies, the sole effect of left lateral position or the sole effect of rest was not evaluated, and the results of resting in another position is not known. In addition, it is hard for a pregnant woman to maintain the left lateral position continuously.

Rest in the prone position is not practical for a pregnant woman, particularly after the first trimester of the pregnancy and supine position may cause several hypotension related symptoms including nausea, anxiety, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, perspiration, tachycardia and urge to change position. Thus, right lateral position may be an alternative.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of maternal rest in the right lateral decubitus position on estimated amniotic fluid volume in comparison with the left lateral position. Because, in both groups the mothers rested, our secondary aim was to obtain data for the contribution of maternal rest to the AFI increase observed in the previous studies.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Pregnancy
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Maternal rest in left lateral position; Behavioral: Maternal rest in right lateral position

Detailed Description

In order to study the effects of maternal rest in the right or left lateral decubitus position on amniotic fluid index, the investigators assigned the patients into groups 1 and 2 by using a computerized program and sealed cards (first investigator, K.Ü.). The department's head nurse used the sealed cards to allocate the participants into groups.

Previous studies detected amniotic fluid index increase during maternal rest in left lateral decubitus position. Thus, the primary outcome of the study was to detect the same increase in the left lateral position, and in the right lateral position as an alternative to the former position. The secondary outcome was to determine the role of resting alone.

The amniotic fluid index change values obtained in a previous study were used to perform power analysis. Power analysis indicated that in order to achieve an increase from the initial amniotic fluid index value of 153.76 ± 38.47 to the 15th minute value of 185.42 ± 46.89 with 90% of power at one side alpha of 0.05, at least 34 women were needed in each group. Thus, 76 women were invited to participate in the study in order to avoid unpredictable errors.

According to the predefined study design, all participants had an initial AFI measurement. Following the initial AFI measurements, women in Group 1 ( maternal rest in left lateral position) rested in the left lateral position for 15 minutes and then rested in the right lateral position for another 15 minutes. Women in Group 2 (maternal rest in the right lateral position) started resting in the right lateral position for 15 minutes and then rested in the left lateral position for another 15 minutes. The AFI values of both groups were measured before interventions, at the end of first 15 minutes and at the end of second 15 minutes. Depending on the study design it was impractical to blind either the observer or the participants. The well-being of the fetus and the mother were assessed intermittently by recording the fetal heart rate trace and measuring the maternal blood pressure and pulse rate.

In order to avoid the inter-observer variation, a single examiner (Second investigator, M.Ç.) measured all AFIs by using a high resolution ultrasound apparatus (Voluson 730 Pro; General Electric-Kretztechnik, Zipf, Austria) equipped with a convex transducer (2-7 MHz) while the women were on their back in a semi-recumbent position. AFI values were calculated according to the technique described by Phelan et al.The vertically measured values of the four amniotic fluid quadrants were added to determine AFI. The same measurement was repeated immediately and an average of two repetitive measurements determined the AFI. Intra-observer variations were assessed by using the repetitive AFI measurements.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 69
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Kars, Turkey, 36000
    • Kafkas University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 45 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Women with singleton and uncomplicated pregnancies at 36 0/7- 40 0/7 gestational weeks with an amniotic fluid index (AFI) of between 6 and 24 cm.

Exclusion Criteria:

• any intake of food or liquid within the preceding four hours of amniotic fluid index measurements
• maternal or fetal complications.
• Hypertensive pregnancy disorders
• gestational or pre-gestational diabetes
• maternal vascular disease
• any known chronic maternal illness
• rupture of membranes
• congenital malformations
• intra uterine growth restriction
• an abnormal non-stress test

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Maternal rest in left lateral position; women in "maternal rest in left lateral position" group rested in the left lateral position for 15 minutes and then rested in the right lateral position for another 15 minutes.	Behavioral: Maternal rest in left lateral position; After initial amniotic fluid index measurements, the participating pregnant women were instructed to turn their left sides and rest in that position for 15 minutes before a second amniotic fluid index measurement
Active Comparator: Maternal rest in right lateral position; Women in "maternal rest in right lateral position" group started resting in the right lateral position for 15 minutes and then rested in the left lateral position for another 15 minutes.	Behavioral: Maternal rest in right lateral position; After initial amniotic fluid index measurements, the participating pregnant women were instructed to turn their right sides and rest in that position for 15 minutes before a second amniotic fluid index measurement

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Significant increase or decrease of amniotic fluid index during maternal rest in the left and right lateral positions	Both intervention group participants rested in the left and right lateral positions 15 minutes for each position. First and second groups started resting in the left and right lateral positions, respectively, and then changed the positions. The primary outcome measures were; Resting in LEFT lateral position for 15 minutes increases or decreases amniotic fluid index; Resting in RIGHT lateral position for 15 minutes increases or decreases amniotic fluid index; Initial position of resting, left or right, effects the amniotic fluid changes	30 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The role of maternal rest alone	The mothers rested 15 minutes at left and 15 minutes at right lateral positions in both groups. Thus, if a difference was observed at the end of the rest period in both groups, then, the specific lateral position,had more contribution to the observed amniotic fluid index change than the rest alone.	30 minutes

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Decrease of pre-specified increased amniotic fluid index after maternal rest in the left lateral decubitus position	Previous studies showed the increase of amniotic fluid index during maternal rest in left lateral position. Thus, the change of the maternal position from left to right might cause a decrease of the "increased amniotic fluid" during rest in left lateral position	15 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Kafkas University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Kahraman Ülker, MD, Kafkas University School of Medicine

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Ulker K, Cecen K, Temur I, Gul A, Karaca M. Effects of the maternal position and rest on the fetal urine production rate: a prospective study conducted by 3-dimensional sonography using the rotational technique (virtual organ computer-aided analysis). J Ultrasound Med. 2011 Apr;30(4):481-6. doi: 10.7863/jum.2011.30.4.481.
• Ulker K, Gul A, Cicek M. Correlation between the duration of maternal rest in the left lateral decubitus position and the amniotic fluid volume increase. J Ultrasound Med. 2012 May;31(5):705-9. doi: 10.7863/jum.2012.31.5.705.
• Ulker K, Temur I, Karaca M, Ersoz M, Volkan I, Gul A. Effects of maternal left lateral position and rest on amniotic fluid index: a prospective clinical study. J Reprod Med. 2012 May-Jun;57(5-6):270-6.
• Ulker K, Cicek M. Effect of maternal hydration on the amniotic fluid volume during maternal rest in the left lateral decubitus position: a randomized prospective study. J Ultrasound Med. 2013 Jun;32(6):955-61. doi: 10.7863/ultra.32.6.955.

Helpful Links

• Official journal of American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: March 1, 2013
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 1, 2013
• Study Completion (Actual): April 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 23, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 24, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): January 28, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): January 28, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 24, 2014
• Last Verified: January 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Amniotic fluid index;; amniotic fluid volume;; intervention studies;; maternal care patterns;; mother-fetus relationships;; rest;; sonography;; transplacental exposure
• Other Study ID Numbers: KafkasUniversity1