Im 27 weeks pregnant and ive read that its best if you sleep on your left side, if not your left then your right side and try not to sleep on your back. But i can only get comfy on my back!! i try to sleep on my sides but always wake up on my back, anybody else heard of this? i thought if it was that important then my midwife would have told me about it?
2007-02-27 02:22:32 · 24 answers · asked by Keira 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
The reason they say to sleep on your left side is because it opens up the arteries etc and provides extra oxygen to the baby. Sleeping on your right side aids digestion as the stomach empties from the right. They say not to sleep on your back, especially in later pregnancy as it can compress the main vein in your body, the vena cava and reduce blood flow to the baby.
I think it really doesnt matter, pregnant women get such crap sleep anyway that I think it is more important to find a comfortable position and get a decent night's sleep. One tip though, if you go to bed with heartburn or indigestion, prop yourself up a bit and lay on your right side, it really helps.
2007-02-27 02:29:30 · answer #1 · answered by Dingle-Dongle 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's desirable to sleep on your side rather than your back, but if you find that you roll over onto your back, then don't worry too much about it. The main risk is that you will cut off some oxygen. This is a greater risk to you than your baby as you might feel faint. It's not great for the baby, but you are not going to hurt your baby by sleeping on your back, and it's better for you to get a good nights sleep than not.
If you are cutting off oxygen, you will most likely start to feel a little numb and move - it's like if you sleep on your arm!
Just try to sleep on your side and you will probably get used to it after a while. Also, as you get bigger, you will find it less comfortable on your back so sleep on your side more anyway.
I had the same problem as you, and I still sometimes sleep on my back but as I've got bigger I've found it more comfy on my side.
2007-02-27 10:50:23 · answer #2 · answered by Ricecakes 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i go to sleep on my side with a pillow between my legs but i always wake up on my back to, i don't think it matters witch side you sleep on, but it may have something to do with the position that your baby is in, this is my second pregnancy and i think if it was important to witch side you slept on a doctor or midwife would of mentioned it, just sleep how you feel comfortable.
2007-02-27 11:10:53 · answer #3 · answered by Dreamah 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you should definitely avoid sleeping on your back. Our Dr (A PHD, with a lot more medical education than a Midwife would have) did tell this to my wife. Otherwise the weight of the baby rests on some important artery, which can slow the rate of bloodflow to the baby, which obviously is not a good thing. My wife got a special pillow to go under her tummy, and just dealt with it. She wasnt super comfortable, but she wanted to do the right thing.
2007-02-27 10:31:15 · answer #4 · answered by bmwdriver11 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
you sleep however you want. Sleeping on your back is fine, especially towards the end if your bump gets in the way or your ankles swell and you have to elevate them. Women have been having babies since yr dot, the trouble today is that no matter what we eat, drink, dress etc everyone has conflicting opinions. As long as you are comfy go for it. try and get as much sleep now before he/she comes!!!
2007-02-27 10:29:57 · answer #5 · answered by manc.lass 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I heard sleeping on your left side was best so the baby isn't crushing your organs. But at 27 weeks, that shouldn't be a problem yet. I slept on my back and throughout my pregnancy's, and I came out of it fine and so did my kids.
The only way I could sleep on my side was if I put a pillow between my knees. Most of the time, I still ended up on my back too.
2007-02-27 10:28:45 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Sleeping on your back won't KILL your baby, it's just that blood flow is best to the placenta if you sleep on your side. You can't help how you sleep and the important thing is that you get some sleep.
I'm having a similar problem except I wake up on my belly, and it hurts. I'm considering wedging myself in at night so I can't flip to my belly.
2007-02-27 10:51:29 · answer #7 · answered by Michelle L 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've definitely heard of that before but personally I do not think it really matters. I had a baby 6 months ago and he is fine and towards the end, I could only lay flat on my back. Do what is comfortable for you. Nothing is going to happen. All the things that people say, let them say. Yes them to death. Believe me, I was paranoid about everything but now that I know, if I ever get pregnant again, I'll know what to believe or not
2007-02-27 10:30:30 · answer #8 · answered by Crash 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The best position to sleep in the one you are most comfortable in...because if you are comfortable, then your baby will be too! Your baby would soon let you know if it wasn't comfortable.
There is no evidence that I have heard of that says you shouldn't sleep on your back!
Later in pregnancy, if you get heartburn, sleeping on your back can make it worse....but that's all!
Enjoy and best wishes
2007-02-27 10:31:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Have you noticed how many "rules" are out there for pregnancy? You can't eat certain foods, you can't drink certain things, you should read to your baby and listen to Mozart so it's smarter than all the other kids. Forget about working out, you can't do that anymore. Don't dye your hair. Don't paint your house. Don't drive a car. You can only sleep in certain positions. You get the point.
Do you know what I think? It's all crap. Yeah, there are certain warnings to heed (like not drinking alcohol or taking medication). But women have been having babies for millions (or thousands or hundreds depending on your religious stance) of years. Sleep however you are comfortable.
2007-02-27 10:31:54 · answer #10 · answered by poohb2878 6 · 5⤊ 1⤋