TO STUDY THE CHANGES IN AUTONOMIC NERVOUS ACTIVITY IN DIFFERENT SLEEPING POSITIONS ADOPTED BY PREGNANT FEMALES IN LAST TRIMESTER BY CARDIAC AUTONOMIC NEUROPATHY ANALYZER

Abstract

Background- Pregnancy is associated with substantial changes in cardiovascular system. The action of the autonomic nervous system is thought to be essential for the circulatory adaptation seen in pregnancy and nourishing growing fetus. Aims and objective- The study was conducted to assess the changes in autonomic nervous activity in different sleeping positions adopted by pregnant females in last trimester and compare it with non pregnant females. Material and methods: A Comparative study was carried out amongst pregnant and non pregnant women in Department of Physiology. A total of 60 women (30 pregnant as study group and 30 non pregnant healthy women as control group) aged between 18- 30 years were included in study. Results: The present study showed the role of parasympathetic activity in controlling hemodynamic in late pregnancy and left lateral position is found to be better recumbent position for uteroplacental circulation. Conclusions: it was concluded that the supine position should be avoided and the left lateral decubitus position encouraged in late pregnancy, since the suppression of cardiac vagal activity and enhancement of cardiac sympathetic activity were greatest in the supine position and are least in the left lateral position.