Laying Flat on my Back

**damprye** · April 30th, 2011, 01:59 AM

Ok well I shall start off by saying that yes I know that it is bad to lay on your back after you are four months pregnant.

I am 22w2d and am having issues sleeping at night for the fear of rolling onto my back. It wouldn't be so bad if this fear was unjustified but I keep waking to find myself flat on my back once again. I am usually a light sleeper as well and normally wake up to roll over but that is another thing out the window atm, I'm turning in my sleep

What can I do about this? It scares the hell out of me because I know that it can reduce blood flow to bub.

Is there anything I can do short of putting a wedge under the mattress to keep me slightly up from the waist up. I have tried the pillow under one butt cheek as well but that is uncomfortable and I get off of it anyways.

Last night I was so tired I decided I didn't care (at that point) and just went back to sleep without turning. I don't want to be like that so please help

**~Stoked~** · April 30th, 2011, 02:15 AM

I may be completely wrong here (and will happily stand corrected if I am!) but i thought that it was more an issue of restricting blood flow to the mother, not the baby, and that if it became too much of an issue you'd become uncomfortable and automatically move anyway.. ITMS!? Omg I just re read that and it makes no sense at all but I'm very tired and can't think! Haha!
I wake up alot through the night because i'm on my back and it's uncomfortable so I move.. But lying on my side is not much better as my hips are playing up too!

**LimeSlice** · April 30th, 2011, 02:18 AM

Why is it bad to sleep on your back?? As if you don't have enough to stress and feel guilty about when pregnant as it is.

I slept however I was comfortable. If you sleep on your back, sleep on your back.

**~TT40~** · April 30th, 2011, 03:05 AM

Its because you block your ...sorry its 3am and I cant remember the name of it...but its the major vein the returns blood from your legs to heart and it can make your blood pressure drop. All good if you unblock it straight away but for a longer duration anything that comprimises mum comprimises bub.

Sorry no real tips other that the pillow underneath you...

Sent via my vortex manipulator

**Liz** · April 30th, 2011, 06:56 AM

I still find myself asleep on my back. I've understood that you will instinctively change position anyway if it's uncomfortable. Unless you're using something to help you sleep that might inhibit that instinct.

I really wouldn't stress about it

**Danielle_NZ** · April 30th, 2011, 07:06 AM

I was told that your body would wake you before any damage was done and to not stress about just enjoy your sleep as much as you can.

**zap** · April 30th, 2011, 08:12 AM

I slept any way I chose through all pg even with my twins. I always woke and turned cause I was uncomfortable and be the end of you pg that weight on your back pretty much wakes you straight away!

I did have an issue with it once. I was having an ultrasound for the twins which took over an hour and I was on my back the whole time. I felt very faint and had cold sweats. All they got me to do was turn on my side for a couple of minutes then straight back onto my back. So I guess if they weren't overly fussed about it I would say its not a huge issue.

And come to think of it they warn us of the dangers of listeria, smoking, drugs and drinking whilst pg. If it was something really dangerous I think they would be informing us?

**Jellybean29** · April 30th, 2011, 08:57 AM

I've found lately that lying on my side just results in leg cramps that wake me up, and lying on my back is actually a lot better for sleeping. I just prop myself up with some extra pillows and don't have any problem with blood flow, and I suffer from low blood pressure. So its fine love, if you can sleep that way, go for it!

**Madham** · April 30th, 2011, 09:02 AM

I was told that your body would wake you before any damage was done and to not stress about just enjoy your sleep as much as you can.

My Ob told me exactly that, sleep however you feel comfortable your body will let you know if you need to move

**Nai** · April 30th, 2011, 09:34 AM

My bed was a land of pillows

I had a wedge pillow under my bump, a v-pillow between my knees and 2 pillows along my back - generally I couldn't roll over but if I did then the pillows behind me just made sure I wasn't completely flat.

**Taurean** · April 30th, 2011, 10:46 AM

My bed was a land of pillows

I had a wedge pillow under my bump, a v-pillow between my knees and 2 pillows along my back - generally I couldn't roll over but if I did then the pillows behind me just made sure I wasn't completely flat.

That's what my bed was like too! There wasn't much room left for DH, he was thrilled about it

In all seriousness though, all the pillows really helped with comfort more than anything but also kept me on my side which helped with all my back and hip pains.

**PumpkinZulu** · April 30th, 2011, 10:57 AM

Wow my body must completely suck lol, because I've lain (Uh, it's lain, right?) on my back for however long I've wanted this whole pregnancy and never had an issue. I actually only get a bit short of breath/my chest feels constricted, when I first lie down, and that is on my side. I say sleep how you're comfortable, your body will tell you if you're doing something wrong. I too was a bit worried when I first hear sleeping on your back was apparently bad...then I realised, it actually didn't do anything to me, and I sleep/lie however I feel like. At this stage whatever is the most comfortable wins for me. As a PP said, I actually get more leg cramps etc lying on my side.

**andi81** · April 30th, 2011, 11:01 AM

I've been having the same issue with sleeping. Last week I bought a body pillow (the really long maternity pillows) and since then I have been getting the best nights sleep since I fell pregnant!
I rotate between being on my side hugging the pillow with one leg under and one on top (which is alot more comfortable than I thought it would be) and putting the pillow behind me so I it gives me the feel of sleeping on my back but has you on a bit of an angle so all the weight is moved to the side. I tried perservering with european pillows and normal pillows but I got frustrated with moving them all around so I'd end up chucking them on the floor half way through the night. The body pillow only cost me $25 with pillow case so I reckon it's definitely worth it!

Good luck

**DANNIIM** · April 30th, 2011, 11:01 AM

I remember being told about it when pregnant with DS1 but that was 10 yrs ago. It's alway been in the back of my mind but i don't stress about it cos in most cases your body will do what i need to if it uncomfortable plus later on in pregnancy it's way to awkward laying like that anyway.

**Jellybean29** · April 30th, 2011, 11:42 AM

andi81: slightly off topic, but I got a body pillow from Target or Kmart for about $20ish but can't seem to find a pillow cover for it

Any ideas?

**damprye** · April 30th, 2011, 11:59 AM

Don't you just hate it when you press reply and it deletes everything? grr anyways...

Thank you all for your input, I feel a bit better about getting the most comfy sleep on my back now. Earlier in the pregnancy I did manage to sleep on my side but my hips have exploded again and it hurts to much to lay on them, even with my big body pillow and V pillow lol. I went and got my body pillow almost as soon as I found out I was preggas and can rarely sleep without it lol.

BBB- I got mine from Kmart for $25 but it came with a cover. I have however brought a few spares from 'Baines Manchester' so that I never have to go without my pillow lol.