Sleeping on back AOK now!?!?!

While I was layed up last week on the couch wuth the flu I was catching up on reading some of my Practical Parenting magazines. I was reading an interesting article about sleeping on your back while pregnant.

The article states that new research shows that sleeping on your back has no effect on mum or bub - other than maybe slight dizzyness when mum gets up. I was always told that you should avoid it.

Has anyone seen this article?? I tried searchingon line for it but cant find it - Im pretty sure it was practical parenting but I was also reading Cosmo Pregnacy so It could be that on as well...

Kate

I haven't read it, but I often wake up from having been sleeping on my back and at almost 7 1/2mths pg, I feel fine after doing so. No dizzyness for me. I also layed on my back alot when pg with my other bubs, and never had issues. I think it all just depends on your own individual anatomy! The risk is supposed to be that you can put a fair bit of pressure on a major vein or artery or something and it can cause dizzyness and fainting. I suppose if baby isn't in a position to be laying on the vein in question, then you won't get the symptoms!!

I haven't read the article but my OB said as long as im comfortable with it (which i was until a week ago!) then its not a major issue, but not to do it all the time. as PP said, its to do with bubs weight pressing down on a major vein (Vena Cava its called) which can lead to the dizzyness/fainting. I find now if i do lie on my back i get short of breath and am dizzy when i get up, so no more back sleeping for me :( i can't wait to sleep on my tummy again!

I wake up on my back, so there's really no way to avoid it ! :) Happened last time too, and baby and I were fine. Can't wait to sleep on my tummy again though!

Thanks Ladies

I find I wake up on my back most of the time to as my hips tend to ache after a while.

I could never remember why we weren't allowed to sleep on our backs, just that we were advised not too, so i always avoided it. Not that I'll plan on sleeping on my back heaps, but this is interesting, and it's good to know that I shouldn't feel overly guilty everytime i wake up in the night on my back (which is every now and then) Thanks for posting this :)

Yeah I also read sleeping on your back is fine in a magazine! Just can't remember which one.

The Vena Cava is the major vein that takes old blood back to the heart to be re-oxygenated... the reason you would get dizzy or light headed is because less blood is getting back to the heart therefore less blood and oxygen is being pumped around your body. But before it can do any damage you would turn over or move as your body is protecting itself.