laying on my back...

[*noni*e*]

sometimes i just don't feel comfy lying on my side... especially at the moment i have the flue and find it hard to breathe in certain positions... i heard that everything kinda squishes when u lay on your back is that worse with an anterior placenta? i just got told i have that... sometimes i feel when i lay on my side things are squishing but
please help!!!

[nickel]

I think the reason you are not meant to lie on your back is due to squishing the vein that transports blood from your lower body to your heart. This can result in changes in blood pressure, especially drops. given that it's ok to lie on your back when you aren't pregnant, the only difference is the weight of the uterus. I would think at this stage of your pregnancy it possibly would make little difference? check with your care provider though.
Back-sleeping is also supposed to increase your risk for backaches and hemorrhoids, inefficient digestion, and impaired breathing and circulation. But again, if your uterus doesn't weigh much I don't see how this is any different to when you aren't pregnant.
I think it really starts to matter after the first trimester. Just my personal experience, I lay on my back until uncomfortable in 3rd trimester and had an anterior placenta and we were all fine. But that was us, and you'd need make your own decision.

[*noni*e*]

yeah i am just into the second trimester and am starting to show a little bit but don't actually know how much heavier i am the main problem is with the flue i find it worse laying on my side for some reason..

[nickel]

Just to disclaim that I'm not a nurse or medically trained, but honestly, if you feel more comfortable, and haven't put on stacks of weight, and you don't experience any of those side effects, then I think being comfortable is really important. You need your sleep etc. I can't imagine one or two nights would make that much difference, because in all the warning of how you shouldn't sleep on your back, they always say "if you wake up on your back just roll over - you haven't done any harm to your little one" so I'm guessing a few hours on your back isn't that big a deal?? But just give your obst a ring, or your care provider - you've tried all the pillow positions I suppose??

[*noni*e*]

yeah i kinda have a bit of vertigo with the flue so if i am propped up on one side with a pillow kinda half on my back half on my side i feel like i am gonna kinda roll and the room spins yuk!!!

[Alan]

Lying on your back is not recommended as the weight of the uterus can cut off the blood supply to your baby. However this can only happen when your tummy is getting big and often by this time it is too uncomfortable to sleep on your back. Nonie if you are partially sitting up then that is OK you would need to be directly on your back for it to be a problem

[~Debbie~]

if i fell the need to sleep on my back, i pop a pillow under my right side. props me abit onto my left.

[Alan]

You could also put a pillow under one bum cheek. As long as you are not flat on your back you should be ok.

[Aranah]

What if you accidently roll onto your back in your sleep? I do this often at night and feel no discomfort. And I am bigger now than I was just before being induced with my first.

I can't seem to stop doing it in my sleep.

[castle]

Tara, I think it's worth while making an extra try not to roll on your back. Maybe put pillows in place before you fall asleep? If you are trying to get bub in an anterior presentation, sleeping on your back will NOT help.

[*noni*e*]

thanks heaps guys

[~Debbie~]

also found initially, that hugging a pillow helped to stop me from rolling over.
Perhaps you could also try one of those body pillows. I havent really found that i need one yet, but, i am sure lots of peoples on here have them, as they get recommended lots.