3rd Trimester

Sleeping on Your Back

So I know the best position to sleep in is on your left side but I just can't seem to stop sleeping on my back. It is still comfortable and I will start out on my side with the pillows but somehow always end up on my back. I wonder if this is hurting LO in any way? I don't want to sound like a crazy nut but sometimes I think maybe I am harming her in some way. I plan on mentioning it to the doc next week but I just wanted to see what you ladies thought.

Re: Sleeping on Your Back

  • Same thing here!  I always am waking up on my back.  I'm sure the baby is fine though.  I wouldn't worry about it at all.
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  • As long as it is comfortable, it is ok to sleep on your back.
  • If you can manage to sleep on your back I think it is more important to actually get sleep than be certain you are on your left side all the time.
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  • I'm 38 weeks and occasionally wake up on my back. Your body will let you know if you need to move. Just sleep however your comfortable.
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  • The reason they say sleep on the left side is it offers the best blood flow. Your not "hurting" your baby, your body will tell you when you need to roll over. I still sleep on my back for short periods of time, but then it becomes uncomfortable so I roll on to my side. But I prefer my right side.
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  • I was definitely always on my left side for a while, but up until about two weeks ago I've been doing more sleeping on my back. I was wondering the same thing. I was just tired of waking up with my shoulder being crushed!

  • If it is still comfortable I wouldn't worry too much. I can't be on my back for any amount of time. My gigantic ute kills me.
  • Thanks ladies. I have been a bit of a hormonal whack job lately and I worry about every single thing so hearing your comments make me feel better :)
  • I never had this issue when I was pregnant the first two times...sleeping on my left side was not an issue.  This time though sleeping on my left side actually hurts and sleeping on my right is more comfortable.  I often wake up on my back too though.  Just as long as you roll back over you're fine.  The reason for not wanting to sleep on your back or right side is because the weight of baby and placenta can put pressure on arteries which bring blood to your lower extremities.  Sleeping on your left side is optimal because it gets the most blood flow to your body and to baby.
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  • I always read that if you are sleeping on your back your body will wake you up before you are in danger. Until about a week ago I could sleep all night long on my back. Now, I always wake up when I end up on my back. But I just wake up, roll over and go back to sleep.
  • imageSami8468:
    Same thing here!  I always am waking up on my back.  I'm sure the baby is fine though.  I wouldn't worry about it at all.

    same here

  • My CNM has always said that you should sleep however you're comfortable and your baby will let you know if he/she wants you to move (or your body will).  That said, all three of my babies prefer my right side.  I cannot sleep on my left, back or even stomach within a week or two of my BFP.  No idea why, but I will wake up and have to roll back to my right.  Strangely enough, when I was in labor with DD#1, her heart rate crashed (long story).  They rolled me on my left side to get her to recover and it didn't work so I said she likes my right.  Sure enough, they rolled me on my right and the heart rate rebounded right back up there.  (Happened two more times and rebounded two more times.)  This time around, when I was in the hospital for PTL DS's heart rate spiked (180s-190s) and my BP was really high.  Sure enough, as soon as I rolled to my right side, his heart rate came back down as did my BP.  Everyone is different and everyone's body is different.  Your body and baby will let you know what you need.
  • I never sleep on my back, but for some reason both times I have been pregnant I almost always wake up on my back!
  • I have read the reason they say sleep on your side is because there is a main artery in you back that you could be putting pressure on with the weight of the baby, so it would be actually harming your blood flow, not babies. With that said, my body wont let me sleep on my back, I wake up feeling like I cant breathe and choking, you'll know if your in harm, trust me ;) I wish I was still comfy on my back (or in any position!)  I say go for it as long as you can!!!
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