Back sleepers...when did you stop sleeping on your back?

MrsJerseyJets

I remember from my first that obviously as I got big I couldn't sleep on my back because it was suffocating lol, but I don't remember when it started becoming unsafe.  I have been trying to side sleep for weeks now, but sometimes I just end up on my back and wake up like that.  

Did your doctors say anything about timewise when would be the time to sleep on your side fully?  Just wondering what you are all doing! 

cheri lynne

My MW said its not bad to sleep on your back or on your right side, its just that sleeping on your left is the very best.  Of course that's given that you don't have limbs falling asleep on ya or other pains going on.

nicole0066

My MW said that you can sleep on your stomach, back, etc as long as you are comfortable and that your body will let you know when it's time to stop.  I plan to ask again at my next appointment just to be sure.  I hope it's true though because a lot of the time it feels good just to lay on my back and stretch out.

MrsJerseyJets

Ahh ok!  I remember from my first that people had said that your body would let you know, but it's been 3 years and I forgot some of these kinds of things lol!  I am 16 weeks now, and while I am showing now I am not uncomfortably big yet, so I wasn't sure if it was still ok.  Thanks for the reassurance guys!

Natali25

I've read and heard not to sleep on your back after 20 weeks. Only reason being that the baby could potentially end up on your vena cava/aorta causing low blood pressure which isn't good. Those are the two main blood vessels to your heart. Not good for you or baby.

On another note: I'm 22wks today and woke up on my back last night and rolled over to my side. Baby and I were fine this morning.

 Good luck ladies! (I hate sleeping on my side)

ljtvirkus

I asked my midwife at my last appointment. She said that it's a little early and I didn't need to worry about it yet BUT I am a back sleeper and want to get my body adjusted to sleeping more on my side. She also said that whether it is your right or left side (it doesn't matter) that you don't need to be FULLY on your side. She said just to prop my hip up on one side with a pillow. And if you happen to roll over on your back while you are sleeping not to worry about it. You can't expect to sleep on your side ALL the time.

abbyhannah8

I got something from my OB's office that says as long as you are having a healthy pregnancy with no issues there is no reason to not sleep on your back....unless it is uncomfortable

Chelsey68

Well im having problems so ive been cut off of back sleeping already. I guess the baby is laying on the wrong nerve, so my cousin whos a nurse said sleeping on your back and right side is a big no-no. Funny though i knew none of that the first pregnancy, i was actually sleeping on my back when my water broke.

HotChocolate79

bearsbearsbears:

Most of what I read has said that your body will let you know when it's time.

My body let me know a few days ago--30 weeks--that it's time NOT to sleep on my back.  I woke up having a hard time breathing, but was fine on my side.

This is exactly what my doctor told me.  I am almost 20 weeks and still by far the most comfortable sleeping on my back.  Sleeping on my side gives me awful hip pain.

katcarls

I still end up on my back once in a while, I wouldn't worry about it.  PPs are right, you will move out of discomfort before a sleeping position could hurt you or the baby.

hass2001

My doc said that as long as I'm comfortable I can sleep however I want to. Our bodies will tell us what is not comfortable for us.

dojo1

Never. I always wake up to find myself on my back, despite my best efforts. 

snicksnack

nicole0066:

My MW said that you can sleep on your stomach, back, etc as long as you are comfortable and that your body will let you know when it's time to stop.  I plan to ask again at my next appointment just to be sure.  I hope it's true though because a lot of the time it feels good just to lay on my back and stretch out.

my OB said the same thing last time and I was able to lay on my back propped a little with no issue until the end.  I even worked out on my back. She did say it was generally around 20 weeks that moms start to feel uncomfortable.  This time I am already starting to feel a little out of breath I think the baby may be laying differently than DD.   

charmschool

I fall asleep every night on my side, but I frequently wake up on my stomach! I'm still not showing too much, and it is not uncomfortable. It freaks me out every time! I don't know how to stop myself from doing this.

Christina_Diane

bearsbearsbears:

Most of what I read has said that your body will let you know when it's time.

My body let me know a few days ago--30 weeks--that it's time NOT to sleep on my back.  I woke up having a hard time breathing, but was fine on my side.

Sleeping on my back is still the most comfortable now. I know that my body will let me know when to stop. 

mkflower3000

I've had trouble sleeping because of nausea since around 7 or so weeks, but it really wasn't until 3 or so weeks ago that I really had to stop sleeping on back (I'm actually a stomach sleeper and REALLY miss it). Lying on my back for too long makes me feel sick. I find that I'm actually a lot more comfortable on my left side than the right, although I do end up moving around throughout the night. I've seen posts about having to sleep on a particular side, but my MWs have yet to say anything to me about that!

madeleinek

I'm a back sleeper and got a body pillow early on in my pregnancy to help me "learn" to sleep on my side.  I'm now 24 weeks and lie on my left side when I go to sleep, I still wake up on my back!  I feel so guilty when I do but I usually only feel some numbness on the left side of my body and I'm not feeling light-headed yet.  I have heard from my friends that feeling lightheaded can happen around week 30 when you sleep on your back - not looking forward to that!

PrayThenWait

At my 16 week appointment my OB told me he wouldn't want me sleeping on my back in about a month (so 20 weeks)  but at the time I was letting him know that everytime I'm on my back, whether laying down or partially propped up, I'm having BH.... so that may have played a factor in the conversation.  

However, when I originally told the nurse about the BH before the OB came in, she immediately said "Well, hun, you're not supposed to be laying on your back." 

PurpleSnapDragons

Around 18 weeks I got my snoogle and have been trying to sleep on my side.  I still often wake up on my back, and when I do, I go back to my side.  I figure, when baby gets bigger, my back won't be comfortable and I won't naturally end up there.  As long as I switch to my side when I noticed, there's nothing more to be done and nothing I need to worry about.