stupid question about sleeping on back

[Anonymous]

My OB said you can't sleep on your back once you get to 20 weeks. This is going to be very hard for me, I never sleep on my side! I am only 13 weeks but think I need to start the habit now. He mentioned sleeping on my left side. Can I only sleep on my left side?!

[Anonymous]

With my first pregnancy, I slept on my back the entire time. With my second, it was too uncomfortable for me to lie on my back the entire night, so I became a side-sleeper (which was also uncomfortable, but slightly better). I just slept on whichever side felt the best that night.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. By the end of your pregnancy, you'll just be happy to get some sleep! Good luck!

[Anonymous]

A full-length body pillow can help.

[Anonymous]

If memory serves (my son is 20 months and at 12weeks w/ #2 I haven't pulled out the pregnancy books yet...) there are a few good reasons for not sleeping on your back. The weight of the baby/uterus can compress blood vessels and decrease circulation to your lower body and the baby. This can lead to an increase in severity of hemorrhoids, constipation, etc. I remember being told it was better to sleep on the left, but OK to sleep on either side. A pillow between the knees in later months helps this be more comfortable. I also remember having pregnancy-induced carpal tunnel syndrome, and the pressure of sleeping on my arms made my wrists throb. Sleeping on my side was also hard for me because I get really congested when pregnant, so towards the end I would prop up a bunch of pillows and sleep semi-reclined (which led to more sciatica pain...dang, I forgot what a nuisance sleeping became!)

I think it's a good idea to "practice" side sleeping now. As a tummy sleeper, I didn't have much choice as pregnancy progressed. But, my Bradley teacher recommended a position in which you are kind of half on your side, half on your tummy, w/ one leg bent and raised w/ a pillow or two under the knee to take the pressure off the belly. Sounds convoluted, but it actually ended up being really comfortable. And if you are a tummy sleeper and you breastfeed, it won't be very comfortable to sleep on you chest, but at least you'll be able to sleep on your back again!

Not meaning to sound all gloom and doom, hope these suggestions are helpful!

[Anonymous]

it will become too painful. i'm a stomach sleeper so i understand spending months not being able to sleep comfortably while pregnant!

[Anonymous]

20:36 here...realized I used the word "tummy" instead of "stomach" throughout my post...nothing like life w/ a toddler to suck your grown-up vocabulary right out of your brain!

[Anonymous]

I am 27 weeks and end up on my back a lot when I sleep. It isn't uncomfortable for me, at least not yet. I try to sleep more on my side, but I figure if my body is putting me "back" on my back without any pain or numbing, then it's not a big deal.

When I asked my doctor about it, she said something like "pregnant women have been lying on their backs for thousands of years" - basically just to listen to my body.

[Anonymous]

My midwives told me that however I slept most comfortably was going to be fine for me and the baby. (I am a backsleeper by nature). And I slept on my back and side throughout the entire pregnancy, gave birth to a healthy baby, no circulation problems etc. My thought is that pregnancy is uncomfortable enough without fretting about sleeping positions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:20:36 here...realized I used the word "tummy" instead of "stomach" throughout my post...nothing like life w/ a toddler to suck your grown-up vocabulary right out of your brain!

No worries ... I usually write the word "tummy" because I can't spell "stomach." Now THAT is sad.

[Anonymous]

Conventional wisdom seems to be that your body will let you know if the back sleeping is a problem. You'll feel lightheaded, slightly ill, or whatever. If you feel perfectly fine, then you're probably OK.

Despite that, I still worry. But one suggestion I read is to place a pillow under only 1/2 of your butt or your back (left or right) so that your back is tilted to one side instead of perfectly flat. I resort to that when I just can't take the side sleeping any longer.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP - your body will let you know whether sleeping on your back is a problem for you. As of 25 weeks, being on my back made me feel nauseous, so I switched over full-time to side-sleeping. I second the full-length body pillow idea - I love mine! It helps me get comfortable and into the just right position. I do switch from side to side as my hips begin to hurt after too long on one side. Don't stress - just follow your body's cues.

[Anonymous]

My OB told me even putting a flat pillow under one buttock was enough to alleviate the pressure, etc.

[Anonymous]

I am currently 38 weeks and I try to sleep on my side but I am naturally a back sleeper so I find myself waking up and I'm on my back. The same thing happened with my first child and I didn't have any problems with him ! I agree what others have posted about having a body pillow or just using pillows to make yourself more comfortable when you're on your side.

[Anonymous]

My OB told me sleeping on my back was fine, I was having some other issues and could not sleep comfortably on my side, she said if it was doing any harm (compressing blood vessles etc) I would wake myself up/not feel well dizzy/nauseous and I could change positions