Sleeping position help!

stephanieandben · July 2010

Hi All,

I know I am not suppose to sleep on my back, as to not harm the placenta. But my question is how long can I lay on my back? 1hr.? Not at all? I lay on my back on the couch to watch tv. or to read in bed. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Stephanie

t.bird · July 2010

you can lay on your back for as little or as long as you want.

the no sleeping on your back thing really isn't until much later on- and even then it's within reason.

KLDanford@gmail.com · July 2010

Yes and - unless you have a medical condition (high BP, etc) - that recommendation is really only for your comfort. With a low risk pregnancy, it does not pose any danger to mother or baby.

Five Months to Plan · July 2010

I asked my OB this. She said no one can lay on their side forever. When I do lay on my back I either really prop myself up or she said put a pillow beneath at least one side of your butt. She said this will help with blood flow. I have been really nervous about this too. I am at the end of my nineteenth week up until now I have been comfortable on my back with a pillow. This week it is now so uncomfortable I do not even want to do it.

Lilena · July 2010

Yeah I was told you can do it if i you can handle it as it's the only way I can sleep right now, sleeping on my side even with a pillow is sooo uncomfy.

eileen12183 · July 2010

I heard it was okay as long as you don't feel uncomfortable. I sleep on my back with my head propped up since I've had a never ending cold/cough for the past 2 and half months! But it is difficult for me to fall asleep on my back or my left side because I can feel her kicking me so much more than on my right side. I think it's preference. Maybe ask your doctor for some reassurance if you're worried.

evenstar622 · July 2010

If you are ?comfortable sleeping on your back, go for it. ?Later on (like in 3rd tri), you will be miserable on your back...it will feel like the circulation is being cut off and you will want to lay on your side. ?But right now, if it is comfortable, do it! ?Enjoy it while you still can!

IncogNeato · July 2010

My doctor said the recommendations are based on women who have weaker veins to begin with and that for most women it completely doesn't matter and you should just sleep however is comfortable.

cpmich · July 2010

If you are sleeping on your back, stick a pillow under so that you are either propped up or tilted a bit.

A pregnancy pillow like the Snoogle or Boppy pregnancy pillow really helps with sleeping on your side.

themissizz · July 2010

Agreed w/ the PPs. You'll know when it's too late to sleep on your back because it will start to hurt and you won't want to lay that way anymore.

117ict10 · July 2010

I asked the doc about this one last week with a specific regard to sleeping on left side vs right side and she told me a few things:

The recommendation not to sleep on your back is due to a vein that can be suppressed during pregnancy that will cause your blood pressure to drop aggressively. If this happens, not only does the baby not get oxygen but neither do you so you'll wake up and roll over before anything bad could possibly happen.
The recommendation to sleep on the left is because the liver is on your right side and the pressure of pregnancy can make compress it. If this happens, you will feel physically uncomfortable and will roll over before anything bad could possibly happen.

Then she wrapped it up by saying to sleep in whatever position I feel most comfy in as good sleep is the most important part. Since my preferred position is my back, she said to put a wedge or a pillow under the left side of my pelvis to make it more comfortable with the weight of the growing baby and would also be enough to prevent waking up because of the vein being compressed.

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Sleeping position help!

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