Is it dangerous to sleep on your back during late pregnancy?

Question

I am 33 weeks and I certainly do not do this intentionally... but I go to sleep surrounded with pillows and sleeping on my side... and yet I still wake up all pillows on the floor and sleeping on my back.. I really have tried numerous things to stop from doing this... but nothing works.
Is it harmful for me or the baby?

Answer 1

The concern about sleeping on the back, is that the enlarged uterus will compress the aorta, the main artery that supplies blood to the lower half of your body. The uterine arteries that supply blood to the uterus, are down in your pelvis. So, if your aorta is being compressed, you might decrease the flow of blood to the uterus.

However, it has never been proven that it is a major concern for the fetus as long as you don't have hypertension or preterm labor.

Answer 2

I think sometimes you can't help it. I done the exact same thing, I'm sure all of us have.

The best way to sleep is on your left side. When you lay on your back, the weight of the baby and placenta will lay on a main artery and kind of squish it, making less blood and oxygen go down. I'm not sure if it is extremely harmful, but sometimes it can make you feel very dizzy. When I laid on my back I felt like I was running out of breath. (Thats why I hated going to the doctors office for checkups when I was pregnant, I had to lay back). Heh, don't beat yourself up too bad, you ARE trying to prevent it. But sometimes I don't think we can help what we do in our sleep!

Answer 3

I physically couldnt sleep on my back during late pregnancy, as I couldnt breath properly. The size of the baby was squezing my lungs. it is better to lie on your side, but dont fret about it, you cannot help turning in the night, when you get bigger you may find breathing difficult, and you will either wake up cos you are struggling to breath or you will automatically turn over in your sleep to a more comfortable position. I woke a lot during late pregnancy, because I couldnt breath very well, so I wouldnt worry about it too much, you cant force yourself to lie on your side in your sleep, but your body will adjust automatically if you need to.

Only a few weeks to go, and you wont be getting ANY sleep!

Lozz ;) xxx

Answer 4

It's quite hard for you and your baby baby to breathe if you sleep on your back. The blood does not circulate smoothly around your heart which does not allow your baby to breathe well. When I was pregnant, I had difficulty sleeping on my side, since I was used to sleeping on my back. However, as my stomach got bigger, I was having trouble breathing. I would wake up in the middle of the night, trying to get some air; not to mention that my hands were numb. So I learned to always sleep on my left side (sleeping on your left side will help the blood travel around your heart and back). After a while, you get used to it.

Answer 5

Yea it is, They say to prop yourself up and sleep on the left side. It causes the baby to push down on your main blood vessel or something like that. I cant exactly remember but theres a reason for it. Try sleeping on your side. I dont think its that big of a deal. As long as everything appears to be okay. I wouldnt stress about it too much. You've made it this far and its tough to control something when you are asleep!!! GOODLUCK!

Answer 6

It is MORE harmful to lay on your Right Side
the baby lays on the Inferior Vena Cava ( which is the largest artery in your entire body)
being compressed by the wt of the bay can cause the Mom problems.. thus cauing the baby problems

IVC
Health problems attributed to the IVC are most often associated with it being compressed (ruptures are rare because it has a low intraluminal pressure). Typical sources of external pressure are an enlarged aorta (abdominal aortic aneurysm), a fetus (pregnancy) and abdominal maligancies, such as colorectal cancer, renal cell carinoma and ovarian cancer. Since the inferior vena cava is primarily a right-sided structure, unconscious pregnant females should be turned on to their left side (the recovery position), to relieve pressure on it and facilitate venous return. In rare cases, straining associated with defecation can lead to restricted blood flow through the IVC and result in syncope (fainting)

Occlusion of the IVC is rare, but considered life-threatening and is an emergency. It is associated with deep vein thrombosis, IVC filters, liver transplantation and instrumentation (e.g. catheter in the femoral vein

Answer 7

Its not ideal as it compresses the major blood vessel between you and the baby. That's why pregnant women are advised to sleep on their left sides, because this frees up that major connection best.

But if this happens naturally then try not to worry too much about it. As long as you try and go to sleep on your left side whenever you can, you are doing all that you can.

Answer 8

it isn't dangerous per say. it just isn't wise. i was told that it presses on a major artery so, there is less blood flow to the uterus or something like that. lying on your back for a short time, i think would be ok.
i did sometimes, i was on bed rest for 14 weeks...
talk with your doctor, good luck with that baby!!

Answer 9

i do exactlythe same!! initially i was told it stops the oxygen reaching the baby but when i asked my physio she said it was prob more dangerous to us and she said was you could sleep like that but have to be propped up with lots of pillows! hope i helped xx

Answer 10

Too many pros out in this world. If God had any worries about you sleeping on your back during pregnancy, Think God would have created a hump both in the front and back??