Laying on your back

glycerine1281 · January 2010

Alright, I know you're not supposed to do this (some books say after 13 weeks even), but this is truely the most comfortable position for me sometimes.

So, wouldn't your body give you some clue if this was a huge problem like an arm falling asleep or something? I just spend a lot of time in bed worried that I'm gonna roll onto my back in my sleep because it's naturally pleasing to me and that could choke the blood supply to my baby and kill it (sorry to be so blunt) and I would never know it.

Oh, and forget pillows. I dont' know about you all, but I just bought a house and I don't want to waste $50-$100 on a special pillow. Besides, there's not enough room in our bed for me, my husband and a ton of support pillows. I have one for my tummy side and one for my legs but nothing to prevent my from rolling onto my back.

Thoughts?

Buckets of Moonbeams · January 2010

I slept on my belly until maybe 20 or so weeks with K- then it got too uncomfortable. Like you, I REFUSE to spend $75 on a stupid giant pillow that takes up half the bed, so I found that I could comfortably sleep on my side with a regular pillow between my legs.

I read in one of my books that laying on your back on a mattress isn't really that bad because the mattress is soft.

coryandsuzanne · January 2010

You're right from what I've heard. You body will tell you by your legs falling asleep if you're laying on your back and need to move. It'll wake you up enough so that you switch positions. I'm not worried about it!

synchrosally · January 2010

I still lie on my back occasionally. Your body will let you know. I bought a body pillow for my legs at Walmart for $12!

mkanderson85 · January 2010

For me, it just started this week, but my back HURTS when I lay on my back, so it's not comfortable for me anymore. I wouldn't worry about not laying on it. You'll know when to stop.

KateNonymous · January 2010

My understanding is that you'll wake up if the position isn't working--your body will make sure you adjust. Sometimes I'm more comfortable on my back, too, and I'm at 29 weeks. I find that sleeping on my side, even with my extra pillow, results in muscle cramps in my hips. Last night I woke up twice and was on my back, so I rolled onto my side and went back to sleep. I can't imagine that any harm was done.

BelhurstBride · January 2010

You're correct in the assumption that your body will let you know that it's time to prevent being on your back. It's different for everyone. I have friends who couldn't do it after 20 weeks while I'm still comfortably sleeping on my back all night.

annasi83 · January 2010

I still sleep on my belly AND my back. Not all night, but I still do it. I agree with PP, your body will let you know what's not working for you.

APRILMW · January 2010

I still sleep on my back and, gasp!, even my belly sometimes (though its more of a akward side belly sleep since its too big to sleep flat on). My body lets me know when I need to change positions.....I usually wake up uncomfortable when its telling me that I shouldnt be sleeping like that!

And, my Dr says its ok to do.

smilejenn · January 2010

Like the other ladies, I've always heard that your body will tell you when it's time to stop.

But I can say that I was hospitalized a couple times when I was in my third trimester with my son, and the nurses were really strict about it. If I happened to roll on my back in my sleep, they would wake me up and have me switch positions!

glycerine1281 · January 2010

Oh good. This is exactly what I wanted to hear. Thanks Ladies! I can always count on the Bump for good honest answers

ejh090305 · January 2010

I've never had a problem from laying on my back. I wake up that way every day. You do not need a special body pillow. Just use a regular one and tuck it under one butt cheek. This will elevate your back off the bed enough to not cause problems. A friend of mine who was pg with twins mind you woke up one day and she was seeing stars and was really dizzy. She called the doctor and they said that her body will protect the babies first and that is why she felt the effects. She wasn't getting enough blood oxygen to her brain or something. She just laid on her left side for a while and felt better.

JennyGrl · January 2010

I still sleep on my stomach but I put a pillow under one side so it props me up alittle bit. But I am always getting up to pee so I am always changing positions. My arms were falling asleep one night, is that a sign that I should change positions?

ChristinaD09 · January 2010

My husband woke me up just the other day while I was sleeping on my back. My body didn't wake itself up. I have yet to feel uncomfortable or lightheaded from being on my back, but I think its worthwhile to make an active effort to sleep on your side. I started at 14 weeks, and by 16 I was mostly on my side. By 20 I was definitely on my side (other than a couple random times where my husband woke me up).

georgia_peachy · January 2010

The literature my doctor gave me with FAQs said you can sleep on your back until the 3rd trimester and even then your body would tell you if you needed to roll over. I even asked her about it because often that is the only way I can sleep. She said as long as my legs aren't going numb or I feel uncomfortable I should be fine.

laurasue · January 2010

Your body will certainly tell you when you need to stop laying a certain way. I could do tummy until about 19 weeks, and I can still do back form time to time, But other times I wake up and my limbs are all tingly so I have to roll over. I'm also finding that left side is more comfy than right. As much as I don't want a big pillow to add to our little bed, I have no doubt it will be the only way to get comfortable once I get a lot bigger.

Stratton28 · January 2010

I still lay on my back a lot and I'm 26 weeks. It's usually the most comfortable (and I never slept that way pre-preg..)

I also almost lay that way if I'm watching tv since sitting upright KILLS my back, especially after a long day at work (desk job)

jennygirlmt · January 2010

I could have written this, and almost did a few days ago. I agree, laying on my back is absolutely my fave way to sleep (it is comfy and my back doesn't hurt in the am then). I was getting worried because I kept going to sleep on my side and waking up on my back. I really didn't know what would happen, could my baby be affected without me knowing? Well, let me tell you, you'll know! My arms fall asleep! And it wakes me up, usually when they start to tingle gets me so I wake up before they are full fledged asleep, and then I roll over. I feel the SAME way about the $50-$100 for pillows. The money is ludicrous and the one that my friend suggested is ginormous! I would need to go sleep in the guest room to use it. So for now I'm just sleeping how its comfy, if I need to lay on my back to fall asleep so be it, and then I roll over later (putting a pillow behind me doesn't work). All week has been a battle for me, I'm hoping I get used to it soon. I found that hugging DH to fall asleep helps and then hugging a pillow whenever he moves around too much :-) Good luck!

shortstuff15 · January 2010

I still sleep on my back and my doctor knows about it and as long as my blood pressure isn't high (which it's not) he's not concerned.

dstar · January 2010

I asked my dr. about this yesterday because when I sleep on my side, especially the left side, I get a horrible pain in my ribs. She said to get a body pillow (you can found them cheap at walmart, target, etc.) and lay on it lengthwise, so it elevates one side of your back several inches. She said this would help the sleeping on your back problem. Hope this makes sense because when she explained it to me, I had a visual.

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