Sleeping on one's back.

rfrazier611 · April 2013

I keep waking up on my back, which I know that in and of itself is no big deal since I just roll back to my side. I've read that sleeping on the stomach is to be avoided for obvious reasons, and that sleeping on the back should be avoided because of the pressure that the baby and uterus put on blood vessels and organs. The books say that sleeping on the back will be "uncomfortable" and you will automatically flip over on to your side once you start to feel bad from all that uterus pressure. However... lying on my back feels AWESOME. I never feel sick or dizzy or lightheaded even if I've been like that for a while, and my lower back pain goes away entirely. I assume that my body would let me know in no uncertain terms if I was doing any harm by lying on my back. Does anyone know if there is any danger to the baby from lying on my back? If there isn't, I think I've found my new favorite sleeping position.

VTFutureMrs · April 2013

You will definitely know when to stop sleeping on your back. As you get closer to third trimester, you feel lots of pressure and it's very uncomfortable to be on your back for long periods of time. I am one that tosses and turns all night, I flip around o

CaliforniaDream87 · April 2013

If you feel comfortable sleeping on your back then I'm sure you're fine. Maybe discuss it with your Dr at your next appointment?

Im normally a back sleeper but since 15 weeks I cannot sleep on my back without feeling dizzy and uncomf

Soleil3 · April 2013

No danger to the babe, and some women have no problem at all with it

Not quite the same, but while in labor with my first, babes heart rate was actually better on my back than on my side.

Chelseamolee · April 2013

Woah woah woah, I've never read sleeping on your stomach is bad. I read that you can do so if its comfortable. Has anyone else read that it's bad?

durhammama · April 2013

I was a stomach sleeper before pregnancy, and then in the early months I was fine on my back. Only this week have I noticed that when laying on my back my uterus is pushing deeply on my bladder and it almost feels like I am stretching far too much. I am s

marinlove0528 · April 2013

I miss sleeping on my tummmieeee

brittas · April 2013

This post makes me laugh because I was having this same exact conversation with my mom and MIL yesterday. I love sleeping on my back and that is usually the only way I feel comfortable. Everything I read says not to freak out when you wake up on you

Chelseamolee · April 2013

msspeedymarie:
Chelseam

atoz625 · April 2013

I was on my back each time I woke up last night... back sleeper to start with so it still feels fine to me. I did have some numbness a few weeks back when I woke up on my back.

CelticWife · April 2013

In the last few days, a study of women in ghana showed that sleeping on their backs increased their risk of a low birth weight baby, and increased the risk of stillbirth. The phenomenon has been noticed in 1st world countries, but non of the studies were

m1ssl1ss · April 2013

as already said, you will KNOW when you can't sleep on your back any more.
for me it was waking up after already being asleep in a panic of not being able to breath, even though I was obviously breathing. my heart was racing and I felt like I had to

firefly8490 · April 2013

Chelseamolee:
msspeedymari

mauied08 · April 2013

i hate sleeping on my back but when i wake up in the morning i find myself on my back and my back feels awesome too! but then i feel bad and sit up lol

perrybaby25 · April 2013

I was just about to post about this. I'm a back and stomach sleeper and I'm trying my best to switch to my side but my arm keeps falling asleep and waking me up. I typically end up on my back which doesn't feel dangerous yet or even on my stomach which gi

akbrown64 · April 2013

My doctor said to sleep in whatever position is comfortable. Your body will tell you when you need to move.

lkobriant · April 2013

I sleep on a combo of back and side/stomach and haven't had any problems. Sleeping on my side is hard on my hips and I wake up in pain if I do it so I see no problem with how I sleep so long as I'm comfortable.

Unknown · April 2013

I also find myself waking up on my back but I usually stack tons of pillows so I'm at an angle and not completely flat on my back. This is comfortable to me. A few weeks ago I could lye on my sides and be fine with a pillow between my thighs and ankles bu

ScarletOflaherty · April 2013

CelticWife:
In the last few days, a study of women in ghana showed that sleeping on their backs increased their risk of a low

fritz799 · April 2013

Yes, yes, yes. This.

brittas:
...They didn't used to tell pregnant women not to sleep on their back, and th

rfrazier611 · April 2013

Chelseamolee:
msspeedy

lefender · April 2013

My last appointment I asked my Dr about this because sleeping on my back is by far the most comfortable way for me to sleep, even now. Her response was sleep however you can get comfortable because you won't be getting a lot once LO gets here. She said no

rissa06 · April 2013

They says that sleeping on your back can decrease circulation to the baby. Additionally, I believe it has to do with flat on your back and not if u have a number of pillows.

With that said, your body tells u when it's time to turn ov

LaciJaxx · April 2013

I am a FTM so I only know what I've learned recently but my Dr told me I should not be sleeping on my back because of the pressure on the vena cava (large vein) that supplies blood back to your heart. She said it's not good for mine or the baby's circu

lisamoe · April 2013

I end up on my back all the time, it hasn't bothered me, either.

I would not worry about it. FWIW, I've only read this in books, my OB never told me I could never lay on my back.

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