When I wake up I, I'm usually on my back but it scares me. any advice on this?
2007-02-01 01:28:45 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
it impedes blood flow which cuts off the oxygen supply to the baby - usually if the baby is uncomfortable, it will let you know, causing you to turn over.. dont worry too much, because you will know if you need to reposition yourself.
2007-02-01 01:33:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sleeping on your back is not recommended when pregnant at any stage. I am 6 month pregnant and in the same predicament as you, i always fall asleep on my side but wake up on my back. This is dangerous, its just that it can make you feel faint or a little dizzy when you do move.. There is a large artery/vein that runs down the back of your body and when you are pregnant and lie on your back it puts pressure on it and stops the flow of blood so easily.
The best thing to do if you can, is arrange the pillows round the sides of you, this way when you are sleeping you hopefully wont turn on your back. You WILL wake up though if you are on your back too long, so try not to worry.
If it was that serious there would more warning etc from medical staff
Congratulations and Good Luck
X
2007-02-01 10:20:17 · answer #2 · answered by carrienicholson23 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You shouldn't sleep on your back because the baby can put pressure on your vena cava (main vein from your legs to your heart). That can be very painful. But if you find yourself waking up, that means that you're uncomfortable in that position and you need to move. It would be worse if you didn't wake up when you were pressing on that vein.
You should just try to start out on your side and whenever you wake up, just turn back on your side. Also, you could try to put a pillow at you back when you lay on your side so you can't roll all the way on your back. That seemed to work for me too,.
2007-02-01 09:59:57 · answer #3 · answered by Cara M 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your left side is optimal for sleeping during 2nd and 3rd trimester. It keeps blood flow going and reduces hypertension. You will find yourself waking up on your back sometimes don't panic, just move into the proper position. And investing in a body pillow will make your sleep more restful and may help keep you propped up on your side...
2007-02-01 09:33:03 · answer #4 · answered by Proud Mommy of 6 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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.
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.
2007-02-01 09:34:39 · answer #5 · answered by Chewie 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My OB said it was best to sleep on your left side during pregnancy because it keeps your cardiovascular system going stronger.
I used to wake up on my back too when I was pregnant and it really scared me, so I would place a big pillow behind my back and it helped. I stopped rolling over and the pillow behind me was comfortable and gave my back some support.
Good luck! Hope this helps.
2007-02-01 09:35:05 · answer #6 · answered by ohenry524 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't stress about it. As the baby gets bigger s/he will put pressure on things like blood vessles when you sleep on your back, but when this starts to happen it will be uncomfortable enough that you will shift in your sleep to make it stop.
If you're really worried about, try getting a body pillow and wrap your arms and legs around it when you sleep, that may help keep you on your side.
2007-02-01 09:34:12 · answer #7 · answered by tabithap 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sleeping on your back during pregnancy (especially during the third trimester) can be fatal for mother and baby.
The weight of the uterus presses directly on a main blood vessel, reducing the amount of blood flowing to the heart. This limits blood flow to the placenta, which can cause malnutrition in the fetus. In some cases, this can cause the mother's heart to stop. No amount of sleep is worth the risk that this poses to you and your unborn child.
A lot of women also experience pregnancy induced sleep apnea, which is significantly worsened by sleeping on your back. Sleep apnea can cause a myriad of health problems, including high blood pressure, heart problems, and extreme fatigue.
The safest positions for sleep during the third trimester are sitting up or on the left side.
2007-02-01 09:53:42 · answer #8 · answered by Smurfy Keeps Going and Going 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sleep on whatever side is comfortable - including your back. YOu won't get any sound sleep worrying about one side or the other (not too mention it'll be really uncomfortable) and now is when you need all the sleep you can get - you won't get it after baby is born. The advise about what side to sleep on often changes and it's really only come into play a few years ago - women have been having babies for thousands of years sleeping on whatever side they chose - just relax.
2007-02-01 09:52:22 · answer #9 · answered by chicchick 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I always ended up on my back. There's little you can do to avoid it without making yourself uncomfortable. Most people say to sleep on your left too. It's supposed to help blood flow. I couldn't. I had to sleep on my right. Try falling asleep on your side and if you wake up on your back, don't worry too much. In just a month or two, you won't be able to sleep on your back anyway -- it'll be too heavy! Good luck.
2007-02-01 09:42:10 · answer #10 · answered by Barbara B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm almost 5 months too and I'm having the same problem. Sleeping on my sides is so uncomfortable for me! I have to sleep with three pillows. Two under my head and one perpendicular and stuffed underneath me so I can't roll over. (It only works halfe the itme) I'm thinking of investing in one of those pregnancy pillows that envelopes your whole body.
Have babies ever died from mothers sleeping on their backs? Anyone know?
2007-02-01 09:35:39 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋