can I sleep on my back???

Question

I am 15 weeks (will be 16 weeks this saturday). I'm having some shortness of breath, but my midwife says that is normal. But I forgot to ask her if I can still sleep on my back. I've read sleeping on your left side is better for your back and brings more air flow to the baby...I know I should sleep like that. But is it nessasary all the time??

Answer 1

Even being pregnant, most of us tend to toss & turn during the night. I usually start out on my left side, and inevitably during the night wake up on my back or right side. Most docs will discourage sleeping on your back since the weight of the baby can decrease your blood flow and make you feel light headed, it won't harm anything if you wake up in the night on your back or right side. I always just move back to my left side. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

i believe only the 3rd trimester is necessary to sleep on side but it's good to start sleeping on your side as soon as possibly. I could not breath at all when I was sleeping on my back from the very beginning. If you sleep on your left side, it is the best, it makes the blood flow to the baby much better (the way your organs are makes the the case) . Well hope that helped!! GL AND CONGRATS

Answer 3

Once you hit week 20 you shouldn't sleep on your back anymore. Thats what my doctor told me. Its best to sleep on your left side. I'm 20 weeks now, and its hard for me to fall asleep on my left side. So, I first go to sleep on my right side, then turn over a little while later.
Try putting pillows behind you to help prop you up. Also, try putting a pillow behind you where your hip is. That way you can still kinda lean back, but not be all the way on your back.

Answer 4

The best position for you is on your left side, because of the possibility of pressure being applied to two major arteries. They can cut down on the blood flow and oxygen level to your baby. I sleep on my right side a lot and often wake up on my back. My doc said if this happens it is not too big of a deal. She said to simply go back to sleep on my left side. It may be a hard adjustment, but you will get use to it. Body pillows also help.

Answer 5

Just try to get yourself used to sleeping on your side. While some people will tell you "I slept on my back the whole pregnancy and my baby is just fine," that isn't always the case. It can cut off bloodflow to both you and baby. Its harmful to both, and you won't necessarily know its happening when it does. Also, the bigger you get, the harder it is to breathe while on your back. Just try out a couple new positions using pillows. Best of luck

Answer 6

It supposedly messes with the blood flow in the inferior vena cava and descending aorta, which could affect the bood flow to the baby, but I slept on my back during the last 3 months of my pregnancy and had NO problems whatsoever, so i would say do whatever makes you comfortable.

Answer 7

Sleep however you feel comfortable sleeping. I rarely ever slept on my left side the entire pregnancy and nothing was wrong with me or my baby. Good Luck

Answer 8

What I did was sleep with a pillow under my legs (knees) while I was pregnant. It was more comfortable for me that way... It gets old sleeping on your left side!
Good Luck!

Answer 9

You are not supposed to lie flat on your back after the 16th week because it can cut off all blood flow to the baby, and thus is very dangerous.

It's ok if you are propped up and not flat, but it is not safe to lay flat on your back. I wouldn't take chances with this, since blood flow to your baby is critical.

Answer 10

Take it from me- I have 2 children. YES you can sleep on your back. I asked my dr the same thing. Do what is comfortable. You can also sleep on your tummy until it's bothersome- I never took a chance though. They recommend the left side because it supports the blood flow thru your heart, and to most women is more comfy. If sleeping on your back is more comfy, then do it. It's perfectly safe!