When to stop sleeping on my back?

Rachel Goldstein · November 2012

I mostly lurk here but I did intro several weeks ago before I found out we had lost one of our triplets. Either way my question is when is it no longer safe for me to sleep on my back? I know it's sooner (I'm told) with multiples but seriously sleeping on my side right now is just not working and I auto-roll onto my back in my sleep. I definitely put myself on my side whenever I notice I'm on my back but I still end up on my back at least once an hour. I'm just barely into 2nd tri (13w5d for mobile bumpies) but I'd like to find a way to kick the habit early.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. TIA ladies!!

pea-kay · November 2012

Your body will let you know. Don't worry about it.

krstnannd · November 2012

I got the comfort U pillow and have been using that! It has helped some, but my body still wants to be on its back. Our doc told us by 20 weeks for sure try to stay off it, but PP is right, just as the doc said, your body will tell you.

I love my Comfort U pillow (Amazon $99) my poor husband

anakah · November 2012

I slept whichever way was comfortable. They tell you to sleep on your left side to help circulation but my DD hated being squished by my DS (she was on the left) so more often than not I slept on my right side or on my back. By 3rd tri I was surrounded by pillows on all sides for support regardless of which way I rolled in my sleep though.

lynn0926 · November 2012

I was told by my OB that it was ok to sleep on your back until you start to get a panic attack or your heart races. I still end up on my back, but my body has let me know to roll to my side. My heart starts to race really fast and wakes me up. You would pass out before you hurt your babies. So, just listen to your body.

earlyspring1 · November 2012

My doctor told me the same thing PPs are saying, but as my belly was getting bigger and bigger and I was still comfortable on my back I started to worry that he was wrong and I was hurting the babies. Then all of a sudden, boom! Two seconds on my back and I'm lightheaded, my heart is racing, and I'm out of breath. Even just rolling from one side to the other in the middle of the night causes me to lay there and pant for a minute, just because it takes me a minute roll my huge self over and I'm on my back for a second. So, long story short, your body will definitely let you know!

elizabeth0705 · November 2012

Yes, you will know! When I roll on to my back, I feel like I am being crushed by my belly! Also, when I am on my back for an ultrasound, I usually start feeling lightheaded and end up rolling on to my side.

That said, it is good to sleep on your side (left especially, as pp said) because of the blood flow. You can try propping pillows in front of your belly and behind your back...that may make it more comfortable to side sleep.

jadeks1031 · November 2012

DH pulled a couch cushion off each couch and put them in bed for me. So I sleep nearly sitting up. It's not the best thing when I wake up in the night and want to roll because my back is sweaty or something but at least I am not flat on my back. I tried one night to sleep on my side without the incline and that has been the only night that my legs started cramping like they did in my first pregnancy. So I figure sleeping on the incline has at least kept me from getting calf cramps.

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