Is it bad to sleep on your stomach when you are pregnant?

Question

I always have slept on my stomach but now that I am pregnant friends have told me to sleep on my side that sleeping on your tummy is really bad. Is that true? I end up waking up all night cause I am not comfortable. I understand when I get huge that I won't be able too, but can I now?

Answer 1

the only reason not to sleep how you want is because blood flows BETTER if you sleep on your left side. It wont "hurt" anything to sleep on your tummy while you can. Your body will not allow you to when it will hurt your baby. Hence the huge tummy thing. I am a stomach sleeper and loved to sleep on my tummy also, but am now 33 weeks pregnant, and can't. I highly recomend starting to get used to the left side, by using a body pilow, and mabey a few extra pillows. This will make the transition easier when you can not sleep on your tummy anymore. good luck and congrats.

Answer 2

No sleeping on your tummy is not bad. Its painful to you, not the baby. Sleeping on your back is also safe, but painful.

Eventaully you're going to reach a point where the wegiht of the uterus is just too much, and the only comfort you have is sleeping on you sides.

Iam a back sleeper and had to ask three doctors, an office of midwives, and quite a few nurses before I could sleep at night without thinking i was killing or suffocating my baby.

Sleep is important, there isnt a wrong way to do it. You will wake up and roll over when you are uncomfortable.

Answer 3

If you're massively protruding (late pregnancy), then there is a statistically significant possibility that your own body could do some harm when sleeping on your stomach. However, the *likelihood* is not great. Talk with your OB/GYN. (S)he can answer the questions in the way you will need them answered. As for sleeping on your back...I, for the life of me can't see how that would harm the baby, other than YOU might be short on sleep due to the mass of your belly and the baby resting on the organs of your abdomen. If you need to, go out and buy a "Body Pillow"...it can *help* you stay on your side (although it can't stop you from rolling over).

Answer 4

You should not because you'll be putting unwanted pressure on the baby which can prove harmful.

What you can do is put a illow or pillows don the front of you and lean slightly toward it. this will will give you some comfort and not harm your baby.

It will also be good practice for when you can no longer lie on your tummy. And don't think it ends with birth. Once you're breast feeding, even after giving birth, sleeping on your tummy will prove difficult due to engorged breats and leakages.

Don't worry it all works out.

Congratulations and Good luck.

Answer 5

It's rubbish... As you go through your pregnancy you will find different positions more comfortable than others. Normally people say don't sleep on your back, that's rubbish too. Get comfortable and happy sleeping. I am currently 28weeks pregnant with my 2nd daughter and I have only just started sleeping on my side, I have been sleeping on my stomach and everything is fine and sleeping is whatever position does not harm your unborn baby.

Answer 6

Sleeping on your stomach will do NO HARM to your baby. Sleeping on your left is the prefered position because it give maximum blood flow, but sleeping on your tummy won't hurt anything because your baby is protected by amniotic fluid. You're obviously not that far along, so go ahead and sleep on your stomach as much as you can....because you soon will not be able to. Especially if you intend on breastfeeding...you won't be able to sleep on your boobs then either. So live it up now.

Answer 7

I was looking for some information online for sleep before, and happen to know this: that's what the expert said

Although there's no real harm in sleeping on your right side, lying on your left side is actually good for you and your baby: It improves the flow of blood and nutrients to the placenta and it helps your kidneys efficiently eliminate waste products and fluids from your body. That, in turn, reduces swelling in your ankles, feet, and hands. If you train yourself to sleep on your left side early on, you'll have an easier time falling asleep when your belly is bulging later.

During the second half of pregnancy, avoid sleeping on your back, a position that puts the full weight of your uterus on your spine, back muscles, intestines, and the inferior vena cava (the vein that transports blood from your lower body to the heart). Back-sleeping can also put you at risk for backaches and hemorrhoids, inefficient digestion, and impaired breathing and circulation. Lying on your back in the second and third trimester can also cause changes in blood pressure. For some women, it can cause a drop in blood pressure that can make them feel dizzy; for others, it can cause an unwanted increase in blood pressure.

Answer 8

Technically you are supposed to sleep on your left side - I couldn't sleep on my tummy while I was pregnant it always made me ill.

Supposedly sleeping on your left side increases blood flow to the baby and takes some of the stress off your back. What I found helpful was to put a firm pillow between my knees to keep my spine straight.

Answer 9

it is not that bad cause the baby is protected very well so you're really are not going to squeeze him/her. It is just very uncomfortable. But how i did it (if you are flexible) to lay on my left side with my left leg straight, then raise my right leg beside and just alittle in the front of my belly and then roll over so i am supporting my weight on my right leg not my belly. And i was able to sleep for a long time like this.

Answer 10

i think its best to practice sleeping on your side now...that way later on you wont be asking this same question again. it sucks i know but you gotta do it. they say to sleep on your left side that will help the blood and oxygen flow better through your body..but sleeping on the right is fine also. just dont sleep on your back, that will put pressure on a vein, and it will be hard to breathe.. when your stomach gets bigger that is. but yeah if you practice these things now, youll be use to by the time you get really huge and you'll be able to deal with it.

love jen.