Sooo....I was just lurking through another post and someone said something about being frustrated she isn't able to sleep on her belly anymore, not out of comfort but because you're not supposed to. Hold up, what?!?! I didn't know this and sleep on my tummy every night. Is this a no-no that I have never heard of or is it okay?
Re: Tummy Sleeping Question
I don't know if you're not supposed to sleep on your tummy, so much as at some point soon, you won't be able to.
You have "less stuff" on your left side (less intestine, the left is the smaller lung, etc) so when you're on your left, the weight of the baby isn't smushing as much. You can definitely roll to the right for awhile to keep your hips from locking up.
Also alarmed. I've always been a tummy sleeper and even though ive been trying to sleep on my left side it's not really happening. I also end up waking up on my back which I don't think we're supposed to be sleeping on
I think I've heard once ur in your second trimester that's when u need to start sleeping in the correct position, or at least not on ur back, but I've also heard not till 18 weeks.
Anyone able to clarify?
With my first LO, my dr. said tummy, back and side sleeping "rules" are not truly in effect until the second half of my pregnancy.
Sleeping on the left allows more room and better air supply (and blood flow) for baby, but your hips and back will be aching if you don't roll sometimes!
You will know when you shouldn't sleep or lay down on your back anymore because you will feel like you can't breathe. My dr. said that it will hurt you before it will hurt baby because you will get a headache first.
I slept on my tummy as long as I could with my first. Even with my leg propped up to hoist my belly off the bed. Around 18-20 weeks though, I started to also get shortness of breath when I did that and was not able to sleep that way comfortably. However, they do make special pillows that are shaped kind of like a doughnut that allow you to sleep on your belly with your belly in the doughnut hole. I don't have one, but it could work??
Don't worry! Trust your instincts - You'll know. GL!
My MW says your body will tell you when to stop sleeping a certain way. If sleeping on your belly is still comfortable you can do it. You can also sleep on your back for some time if it doesn't bother you and you will naturally turn when it's better for your body. Our bodies know better than we might think.
Yeah, believe it or not. lol
Exactly. Sleep on your stomach for as long as it's comfortable. I'm still sleeping on my stomach at 17 weeks, though often bend one leg up to give my belly some more room. Sleep on your left side if it's comfortable, but move as you need too. And if you wake up on your back, don't panic! Just change positions and go back to sleep. Your body will let you know first (ex. headaches, hard to breath, extremities falling asleep, etc) if you should change position. And for goodness sakes, use common sense! Trust your body and your instincts and think for a moment how many millions of healthy babies have been born before these "rules" came into effect.
This. My dr. always says there would be billboards warning women not to sleep on their backs or that they'd sell cages so women couldn't move in their sleep if it mattered so much what position you sleep in.
This.
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