Question about sleeping on back

mysweetpeasWil&Wes wrote: Do you or did you while you were/are PG, sleep on your back? I know the books say not too, but I can't remember if it's okay to do it when you're not even showing yet. I remember the first time being so paranoid that I trained myself to sleep on my side (doesn't it have to be the left side too??) and I had awful back pain throughout my whole PG. I bought one of those snake-like maternity pillows, but I had a love hate relationship with it! I started this as soon as I found out I was PG the last time.

But now, I've been sleeping on my back lately and just wondering if I'm okay or should I make the switch...sigh...oh the awful parts of being PG are coming back to me now!!!

My2Beauties replied: To be honest I slept like I normally slept, sometimes you can't help it while you're sleeping you end up on your back without knowing it. The majority of the time when I sleep it's on my side anyways. I know I'm not much help but just telling you what I remember doing, I just slept as normal as possible!

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Dude... I still sleep on my stomach.

Well...mostly my stomach. I`m on my stomach, with one leg up... so it`s like on my stomach but a little on my side.

More often than not, I wake up sprawled on my back though.

No big deal... your body is made to protect the baby.

mckayleesmom replied: I slept normall too, I am a side sleeper and YES they reccomend that you do most of your side sleeping on the left because your not smashing organs or something like that.. , but I still slept on both.

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: I think the advice not to sleep on your back is more meant for later pregnancy. I couldn't comfortably sleep in my back after about 5 months, too much weight and it made me feel short of breath. It isn't harmful to the baby, just not at all comfortable for the mommy.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: You ladies mean to tell me I went my whole first PG on my side for no reason!!! I'm a total back sleeper, so thank G_d that I can still do it!! I did hear that you can cut off blood circulation to the baby though from the weight of your uterus when you're on your back. Hmmmmm.

Rocky, on your stomach??? I know the position you mean though. I used that pillow and always had a leg around it and my belly sorta pushed into it's side!

amynicole21 replied: I think you are ok until the weight begins to bother you. After about 5 months I couldn't lay on my back because my legs would go numb and I was really uncomfortable. You are correct though - as I understand it the weight of your uterus later in pg can cut off blood flow in some artery or other. I think by the time it would do damage it would become too uncomfortable for you to lay that way anyway.

Kaitlin'smom replied: I was a tummy sleeper until I found out i was PG and then slept alot on my sides, I have a hard time sleeping on my back. so I am no help sorry

kayla's mama replied: I was told after the 5th month no more back sleeping. The left side is the best so you don't put to much pressure on your organs on the right side. I had to train myself to sleep on my left side, I'm a tummy sleeper.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: I was told not to sleep on my back after 4 or 5 months - I didn't think it would be a problem for me since I hate sleeping on my back but when I started getting bigger it was hard because my hips hurt so bad. I woke up on my back a lot and just rolled over onto my side again. My doctor suggested lying half on my side half on my back with a pillow wedged under me so that it took some of the pressure of my hips and didn't put all my weight on my back... that really helped me.

TeagansMom609 replied: My Dr. said at 27 weeks to stop sleeping on my back. I stopped sleeping on my back about 2 mos. ago to get myself in the habit. I HATE it! I am a back and stomach sleeper and it kills me that I cant sleep either way.

They say the reason you shouldnt sleep on your back is because you have a major artery which lies under your uterus, and when you lay on your back later in pregnancy the weight of your baby compresses on the artery which isnt good for mom or baby.

So I stay on the safe side and try my best to keep off of my back while sleeping. Good luck, its not easy.

Hillbilly Housewife replied:
Yeah... I can`t hardly fall asleep without being in that position.....