Can you sleep propped up?

natasha82 · Feb 20th, 2012, 10:49 AM

I know you're not supposed to sleep on your back but i seriously cannot get into a comfortable position at all in bed. I was thinking what about lying on your back but with pillows propping you up (top half) so you weren't actually flat on your back? Or would this still be a problem?

A question, if you happen to go into hospital during your pregnancy, to be monitored or whatever, i am pretty sure you are laying on your back then in the hospital bed? So why is it ok then? Or do the midwives come and make sure you are laying on your side?

erikab922 · Feb 20th, 2012, 11:05 AM

I wake up in the middle of the night on my back all the time - please ladies correct me if I'm wrong but I'm quite sure that in the annals of time no mother has lost her baby from laying on her back. Yes it can reduce circulation both to you and your baby, and can cause changes in your blood pressure (in either direction) but from what I understand in order to do any real damage you'd have to be flat on your back for quite an extended period of time.

Don't beat yourself up over it, if you can get comfortable being propped up it's better than getting no sleep at all.

Kaede351 · Feb 20th, 2012, 11:09 AM

I sleep propped up quite a lot lately. It's pretty much the only way I can get comfortable nowadays. My belly feels SO heavy when I lay on my side, and propping it up with a pillow really is not comfy to me.

My midwife said that it's only if you lie flat on your back... as in no pillows on a totaly flat surface... that it can possibly cause problems. The same with laying on your side. It's not lie you spend every day all day in those positions, I really do not think it will hurt

XxX

natasha82 · Feb 20th, 2012, 11:10 AM

I know, i don't actually know of anyone where this has caused problems to mother or baby either, but you read all these scare stories about it reducing the blood supply to the placenta and stuff like that.

I'm gonna try sleeping propped up abit then, *sigh* its gotta be worth a try, ive tried every other position.

jenn2282 · Feb 20th, 2012, 11:30 AM

i sleep propped up a bit. it tends to help with my heartburn.

floofymad · Feb 20th, 2012, 11:38 AM

I've been sleeping propped up with 3 normal pillows and one v shaped one for months now! Mainly cause of heartburn. It's only been the last 2 weeks or so, that I can't get comfortable in this position either. Midwife said it was ok and only a problem if you sleep flat on your back

megangrohl · Feb 20th, 2012, 11:50 AM

I think that all these rules for pregnant woman are just ridiculous. While, yes, it is bad to be on your back for a prolonged period of time (due to restriction of blood flow to the placenta) I think it's alright to lay on your back for short periods of time. Look at all the women that had babies back in the 30s 40s and 50s, they never had any of these rules and had babies just fine. A good rule of thumb is to take everything in moderation. In answer to your question, my pregnancy books say it may be more comfy for you to sleep propped up as it helps with heartburn and indigestion as well.

natasha82 · Feb 20th, 2012, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megangrohl

I think that all these rules for pregnant woman are just ridiculous. While, yes, it is bad to be on your back for a prolonged period of time (due to restriction of blood flow to the placenta) I think it's alright to lay on your back for short periods of time. Look at all the women that had babies back in the 30s 40s and 50s, they never had any of these rules and had babies just fine. A good rule of thumb is to take everything in moderation. In answer to your question, my pregnancy books say it may be more comfy for you to sleep propped up as it helps with heartburn and indigestion as well.

Exactly, some of these rules are stupid. When i tell my mum stuff you aren't supposed to do nowadays she says well we did it when we were pregnant, so it can't be that bad. We turned out ok and our mums before us and so on. My baby is actually more active when i lay on my back anyway, but then i think is it cos he's strugglying for oxygen or something, damn scare stories. Will be so glad when my bean is here and i can sleep in a comfortable position in bed.

marley2580 · Feb 20th, 2012, 12:20 PM

It's only if you're flat on your back and only if you can't feel any discomfort. When you have a section the bed actually tilts to the left (very strange feeling lol) once they've numbed you.

natasha82 · Feb 20th, 2012, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marley2580

It's only if you're flat on your back and only if you can't feel any discomfort. When you have a section the bed actually tilts to the left (very strange feeling lol) once they've numbed you.

Wow i didn't know that about the bed thing, bet it is strange. But i mean you lay on your back in hospital beds if you get admitted and that and they don't seem all that concerned about you laying on your side.

Feb 20th, 2012, 10:49 AM	#1
natasha82 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lincolnshire, England Posts: 2,498	Can you sleep propped up? I know you're not supposed to sleep on your back but i seriously cannot get into a comfortable position at all in bed. I was thinking what about lying on your back but with pillows propping you up (top half) so you weren't actually flat on your back? Or would this still be a problem? A question, if you happen to go into hospital during your pregnancy, to be monitored or whatever, i am pretty sure you are laying on your back then in the hospital bed? So why is it ok then? Or do the midwives come and make sure you are laying on your side?

Status: Offline

Feb 20th, 2012, 11:05 AM	#2
erikab922 Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: West Yorkshire by way of Chicago Posts: 3,902	I wake up in the middle of the night on my back all the time - please ladies correct me if I'm wrong but I'm quite sure that in the annals of time no mother has lost her baby from laying on her back. Yes it can reduce circulation both to you and your baby, and can cause changes in your blood pressure (in either direction) but from what I understand in order to do any real damage you'd have to be flat on your back for quite an extended period of time. Don't beat yourself up over it, if you can get comfortable being propped up it's better than getting no sleep at all.

Status: Offline

Feb 20th, 2012, 11:09 AM	#3
Kaede351 Trying to conceive (TTC) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: County Durham Posts: 8,041	I sleep propped up quite a lot lately. It's pretty much the only way I can get comfortable nowadays. My belly feels SO heavy when I lay on my side, and propping it up with a pillow really is not comfy to me. My midwife said that it's only if you lie flat on your back... as in no pillows on a totaly flat surface... that it can possibly cause problems. The same with laying on your side. It's not lie you spend every day all day in those positions, I really do not think it will hurt XxX

Status: Offline

Feb 20th, 2012, 11:10 AM	#4
natasha82 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lincolnshire, England Posts: 2,498	I know, i don't actually know of anyone where this has caused problems to mother or baby either, but you read all these scare stories about it reducing the blood supply to the placenta and stuff like that. I'm gonna try sleeping propped up abit then, sigh its gotta be worth a try, ive tried every other position.

Status: Offline

Feb 20th, 2012, 11:30 AM	#5
jenn2282 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: canada Posts: 1,259	i sleep propped up a bit. it tends to help with my heartburn.

Status: Offline

Feb 20th, 2012, 11:38 AM	#6
floofymad Trying to conceive (TTC) BnB Addict Join Date: May 2010 Location: Teesside UK Posts: 3,347	I've been sleeping propped up with 3 normal pillows and one v shaped one for months now! Mainly cause of heartburn. It's only been the last 2 weeks or so, that I can't get comfortable in this position either. Midwife said it was ok and only a problem if you sleep flat on your back

Status: Offline

Feb 20th, 2012, 11:50 AM	#7
megangrohl Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 6,314	I think that all these rules for pregnant woman are just ridiculous. While, yes, it is bad to be on your back for a prolonged period of time (due to restriction of blood flow to the placenta) I think it's alright to lay on your back for short periods of time. Look at all the women that had babies back in the 30s 40s and 50s, they never had any of these rules and had babies just fine. A good rule of thumb is to take everything in moderation. In answer to your question, my pregnancy books say it may be more comfy for you to sleep propped up as it helps with heartburn and indigestion as well.

Status: Offline

Feb 20th, 2012, 12:20 PM	#9
marley2580 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Forfar Posts: 6,505	It's only if you're flat on your back and only if you can't feel any discomfort. When you have a section the bed actually tilts to the left (very strange feeling lol) once they've numbed you.
	Admin Approved Face painting in and around the Angus area.
Status: Offline

User Name		Remember Me?
Password