Sleeping on your back?

[MrsA2014]

Just want to ask everyone's opinion on sleeping positions, before I got pregnant I would always sleep on my front or back, obviously I can't sleep on my front now but has anyone been sleeping on their backs? I've read that your not meant to lay on your back has anyone else heard this? I've not slept properly since finding out because I try to get comfy on my sides but don't stay there for long!

 

[carebear1981]

The reason you aren't supposed to be on your back is because there are two main arteries or veins (I forget which) that the baby could lay on and this would cause you some lightheadedness and nausea. Plus might lessen bloodflow to placenta.
I normally sleep on my back so I find sleeping a huge problem. But I put a pillow under my hip so I'm not flat on my back when I do roll over.

 

[jlw617]

What care bear said is right but you can still sleep on your stomach, up until it's too uncomfortable for you, I still sleep on my stomach and just kind of position myself so that I'm kind of on one side rather than flat center on my belly if that makes sense?

 

[melonbelly]

I sleep on my back too and although I'm going to sleep on my side I often wake up on my back. This last week I've put a pillow behind my back so I end up sideways on the pillow rather than flat on my back. It's hard because I always seem to roll back on my back once I go to sleep

 

[m nonie]

I'm another who sleeps on their front :/, I've started putting a pillow under one knee so I'm not lying on bump .

 

[jessmke]

What care bear said is right but you can still sleep on your stomach, up until it's too uncomfortable for you, I still sleep on my stomach and just kind of position myself so that I'm kind of on one side rather than flat center on my belly if that makes sense?

Yes this is what I do too! I'm a belly or back sleeper, and am still sleeping on my back sometimes without any problems. It is disturbing my sleep a little bit because I know I shouldn't sleep on my back, so I worry about it and then don't sleep as deeply.

 

[jodilee6]

I'm 34 weeks and still sleeping on my front!

It's becoming harder but it's the only position I can actually sleep in, I've had to start propping a knee up on a pillow as LO tends to kick me like mad otherwise.
I'm very much in the school of thought that sleep in any position is better than no sleep!

 

[orionfox]

I too sleep on my front still and its ok for baby as its not a position that can hurt them. But you have to avoid back sleeping as much as possible. When the placenta gets big, laying on your back causes it to go on top of the big arteries. This lessons the blood flow. For me i for sure cant be on my back as it was making babys hb waaaay too low and dangerous. Ive never been a back sleeper, but sometimes i have layed on my back during the day. Now i cant. It partly sucks as that was a great way for me to help my lordosis in my back.

 

[mh_ccl]

Sleeping on your back is fine as long as it's not making you uncomfortable. I slept on my back for my entire first pregnancy, and am still doing it so far this time around.

 

[StaceyM]

I read an article recently from a scholarly journal that said that sleeping on your back is fine as long as you don't feel dizzy/lightheaded, or have other problems. Basically, if your blood flow is restricted you will know, so if nothing happens, feel free to lie whatever way you want. If blood flow isn't being restricted to you, it won't be restricted to the baby. I looked it up because I like lying on my back and it relaxes my hips, ribs, and back, and keeps them in better alignment. I generally still sleep on my back about 50% of the time....that might change as I get bigger; I'll just have to wait and see.

 

[orionfox]

I never felt any light headedness or anything when i was on my back. However i found out at an ultrasound that i shouldnt be on my back anymore as babys hb dropped bad. Babys hb went down to 90bpm. So had i not had that happen at the ultrasound i wouldnt have known it was doing anything bad. Of course for those with the placenta in front its not going to do any harm laying on your back. But if its in the back, there is a good chance it will land on the arteries. Not everyone does feel the effects of restricted blood flow. I sure never did, but glad i found out. Dont want anything to happen to our boy.

 

[Koifish]

I slept on my back up until 2 weeks ago. Its to painful to lay on my back at all now. I am forced to my sides which I hate. Unfortunately as you get further sleep gets harder. Using pillows definitely helps. I would be careful sleeping on your back I think it can vary from person to person with what will or won't affect you and/or baby.

 

[StaceyM]

I never felt any light headedness or anything when i was on my back. However i found out at an ultrasound that i shouldnt be on my back anymore as babys hb dropped bad. Babys hb went down to 90bpm. So had i not had that happen at the ultrasound i wouldnt have known it was doing anything bad. Of course for those with the placenta in front its not going to do any harm laying on your back. But if its in the back, there is a good chance it will land on the arteries. Not everyone does feel the effects of restricted blood flow. I sure never did, but glad i found out. Dont want anything to happen to our boy.

If it is just happening to the baby and not to you it probably has more to do with the umbilical cord and not the artery. If the artery is being compressed enough to cause a major drop in BP, yours would drop as well. Also, heart rate and BP are different so there is something odd there. I would ask for a better explanation.

 

[wlovew]

It has taken me a LONG time to train myself to sleep on my side with a pregnancy pillow. I am also a stomach or back sleeper!! I can only fall asleep on my stomach and I always wake up on my back!! I miss just LAYING on my back soooo much!! Haha... Get a pregnancy pillow and just make yourself use it!! Now at 27 weeks my latest sleep issue is cramps in my buttcheeks!! Whatever side I'm laying on I'll wake up to really awful cramps in that cheek! What the hell, man!!!!!

 

[nicb26]

I sometimes sleep on my back, so I've started lying on my side with a pillow behind me and a pillow between my knees which is a bit more comfy x

 

[LittleBaby311]

Strangely enough when I'm not pregnant im a stomach/side sleeper and never ever back sleeper. When I get pregnant I tend to always wake up on my back? Weird. I'm trying to train myself but I'm so tired at night that I am totally unaware.