Sleeping on your back

JFluvsJD80 · May 2012

So, I've made a concerted effort to remain on either side when I sleep at night (with a big pillow between my legs, extending from knee to ankle, to relieve hip pain). Usually, I do fine. But, sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night finding myself on my back. (and it feels so good! SO much more comfortable for me!)

Is anyone else dealing with the battle of the sleep positions? Got any tips or tricks to share?

vagirl1 · May 2012

It's okay for now. Eventually you will feel like you are suffocating when you lay on your back....your body will let you know. I used to do the same thing.

danieliza1127 · May 2012

Same thing happens to me and I've read similar posts and pretty much everyone says the same thing. I don't really think it's anything to worry about. Your body will let you know if you need to roll over, you'll wake up and roll over. You can't control what you do in your sleep but if you wake up on your back, just roll to one side or the other.

laurendom · May 2012

I constantly end up sleeping on my back or at the most I'm half on my side but half on my back. It just seems to be the most comfortable for me. I figure when its not, I will stop doing it, even in my sleep!

FamilyIsLove · May 2012

I was just at my OB yesterday and she told me that you can sleep in any position as long as you listen to your body. So your back is okay as long as you can breath and you aren't feeling pain anywhere. I am a back sleeper and I've slept on my back up until now. I've started getting this horrible pain on my one side at night (wakes me up). It used to just come when I laid on my ride side but now I'll get it when i'm on my back most of hte time too...so left-side for me.

Bottom line -- i would sleep however you are comfy.

JFluvsJD80 · May 2012

Well, it's good to know it's not necessarily dangerous as long as I don't feel any discomfort. (Though I did notice one night the hip pain creep in after a long period of time on my back). *sigh*....oh, to sleep normally again!!

kdjudd · May 2012

As long as you aren't feeling any side effects from sleeping on your back and your doctor hasn't warned you against it then don't worry about it. When it becomes unsafe you will know. It'll become impossible to breathe!

wp3772 · May 2012

My Dr. told me that the scary thing about laying on your back is that it does not give as much at your tummy, if your baby lays on it's cord and it just stuck between baby and your spine/back there is a chance it can close off the cord and not be able to breath... (One of my friends just lost her baby at 36 weeks because of this)

I put a pillow behind my back - I still do end up there sometimes but I try my best to stay off it.. and I have put my husband on a mission to look at me when he wakes up hahaha. so he will remind me as well!!!

Good Luck - I would not worry about it to much I am just crazy after seeing my friend go through a loss when I was only a few weeks behind her!

KacieLeigh · May 2012

JFluvsJD80:
So, I've made a concerted effort to remain on either side when I sleep at night (with a big pillow between my legs, extending from knee to ankle, to relieve hip pain). Usually, I do fine. But, sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night finding myself on my back. (and it feels so good! SO much more comfortable for me!)
Is anyone else dealing with the battle of the sleep positions? Got any tips or tricks to share?

Yes, I sleep on my back quite often. It's less painful. My doctor said I can sleep however I want. Your body will tell you if you need to roll over.

k.martell · May 2012

KacieLeigh:
Yes, I sleep on my back quite often. It's less painful. My doctor said I can sleep however I want. Your body will tell you if you need to roll over.

Ditto, I rest on my back or wake up on it. When it gets uncomfortable I move.

Mizsoccer83 · May 2012

I begin the night with full intentions of sleeping on either side-and try to start the night with my left side (as I was told it is best)...but there are many times during the night I have to lay on my back-I was always a back sleeper before and find I sleep better on my back. Even with a Snoogle pillow and everything else to help me, my hips get sore and I am in pain, etc on my side. So I think tonight I am going to be a rebel and sleep on my back until/unless I feel uncomfortable. My OB told me a while ago that if I sleep on my back it is not the end of the world and to try my best to sleep on my left side...

catycombs · May 2012

I sleep on my back still. It doesn't bother me at all. I am most comfortable that way. My doc said it was fine. However, I slept on my side with DD and I had major hip and shoulder pain. Sleeping on my back has solved that problem with this pregnancy.

goldie11883 · May 2012

I started getting lightheaded when i would lay down on either of my sides for an extended period of time. When I told my ob he said to try sleeping in a recliner or propping myself up with pillows on the couch. I figure if my dr is telling me to do it then it can't be too bad. But I find I can't lay in one position for a long time no matter which way I'm sleeping lol

I say if that's the way you can get sleep in then there isn't a problem, just listen to your body. When you wake up switch positions.

Kaiterz · May 2012

As long as your comfortable, it's ok to be on your back. I slept on my back until 38 or 39 weeks last time, after that it was just impossible - I would get hot, nauseous and dizzy.

This pregnancy I've gotten uncomfortable on my back as early as a week or two ago. It sucks, so live up the back comfort as long as you can.

cwm11985 · May 2012

I still sleep on my back every night, its the only way I can get comfortable. I do sleep sort of propped up though.

Jackie2200 · May 2012

I still sleep on my back. The only place I've ever passed out while on my back has been on the ultrasound chair.

JFluvsJD80 · May 2012

cwm11985:
I still sleep on my back every night, its the only way I can get comfortable. I do sleep sort of propped up though.

I think I need try propping myself up with pillows a bit! That sounds so comfy right now as I sit at my computer working lol.

trojas · May 2012

I used to love sleeping on back until I couldn't anymore- I felt like I couldn't breathe! I can't to give birth so I can sleep on my back again.

xlastateutigx · May 2012

I have asthma so sleeping on my back during pregnancy is out of the question

ItsSupaFly2U · May 2012

Ohh yea...I always fall asleep on my side with my big body pillow in between my legs. When I wake up, I'm on my back, with my body pillow STILL in between my legs, so pretty much my top half with be flat but my hips and legs will be on the side. Its pretty weird, BUT SO COMFY! lol

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