Sleeping on back when pregnant?

Question

I know that your suppose to sleep on your left side but lately for some reason I keep waking up on my back. I have read that laying on your back too long--(longer then 5 mins) can cause the blood not to pump to your heart? or something along those lines..Is this true? if so how do I avoid sleeping on my back? I am 25 weeks pregnant tomorrow and its starting to become really uncomfortable to sleep.

& dont have money for a pregnancy pillow atm. advice?

Answer 1

I think your body will let you know when you can and cannot do something. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I slept anyway I wanted to up until the end. At the end, it was so painful to sleep anyway but especially on my back (from the pressure of my baby on my spine). I dont think you have too much to worry about...just be happy you still can sleep.

Answer 2

Its true that the blood flow will be slowed. I don't remember what week i was but i was having an ultra sound done and i was on my back for a while and ended up getting really light headed and sat up and threw up. What my doctor said is that the baby puts pressure on the vein that runs right next to your spin and there isn't enough blood flow to your brain. Put a pillow on both sides to you so that if you do turn you will at least have something softer to help with the pressure and keep you on your side a little.  

Answer 3

Idk my sister was prego not to long ago and she slept on her back. but you should turn over as soon as you wake up. IT'll help the pain.

Answer 4

I am 22 wks almost 23 and I wake up on my back all the time. I still think that we arent far enough a long for this to be a huge concern yet. But also I think I wake up when I am on my back because my body is telling me to turn over, so I do. Just listen to your body, you would have to lay on your back for a long longer than 5 min for it to do any kind of damage. Just roll over when you wake up.

Answer 5

closer toward the end of your pregnancy you will not be able to sleep on your back.  right now it should be okay.  i use regular pillows to try and get comfortable, but its hard.  i asked my dr. about back sleeping and he said as long as your comfortable and it's not bothering you then it should be fine.  you will notice when it's not fine anymore.

Answer 6

Yea after 4 months, its not good to sleep flat on your back. It cuts off circulation the the bottom half of your body and makes your heart work a lot harder. Laying on your side (preferably left) makes it easier for you and the baby to breath and helps blood flow. If I lay on my back too long (for dentist or sonogram) I get REALLY sick. I start sweating and get clamy and dizzy. Its kind of scary. If you dont have  a pregnancy pillow, just make a wall of regular pillows next to you so that if you try and roll over onto your back, they will get in your way. Hope this helps!

Answer 7

Buy a $7 pillow (or 2) from Walmart.  Sleep holding one, or have it between your legs or behind you.  Whatever is most comfortable.

Your body will tell you when you definitely can't sleep on your back anymore.  It will become so uncomfortable that you'll wake up before you end up there in the first place.  Don't worry about it yet.

Just get some cheap pillows at Walmart.  They're pretty much the same as pregnancy pillows.  The shape is a little different but they will do the trick.  Ask for a curved one (a nursing pillow) for your baby shower or as a random gift towards the end of your pregnancy.  The shape really helps.

Answer 8

Well congrats on your pregnancy, and i am the same way i am 24 weeks today and i try not to sleep on my back but everytime i wake up in the middle of the night im on my back! It is getting very hard to sleep and sleeping on my sides is not very comfortable either! I have never heard of you will not get enough blood to your heart but i have heard the baby gets to big and it can make it harder to breath and cause some back problems.i dont know but i hope this gets better soon ...... well good luck  

Answer 9

dont worry if you wake up sleeping on your back, this is ok but you really should fall asleep laying on your left side if you can...because this gives the baby the most blood flow and nutrients from the liver....and laying on your back does not stop blood flow to your heart what it does is compresses the vagus nerve from the weight of the baby and this can cause dizziness or light headedness, so it is best to sleep on your left side.....good luck

Answer 10

I always woke up on my back!!! No biggie...it's just that you need to make a conscious effort to stay on ur left side and you are ;) it will NOT cause blood not to pump to your heart

as for pillows, I used two regular sized to lay my head on and a third king sized pillow to hold onto and lay my preggo tummy on and rest between my thighs...it seemed to help ;) GL

Answer 11

I think at 25 weeks your still okay to sleep on your back. As women our bodies are made pretty sturdy. i wouldnt worry too much about it. Besides we tend to wake up when we're uncomfortable anyhow, so i'm sure your body will or woul wake you up to let you know to move.

Answer 12

When I was pregnant, I would start off sleeping on my side but ended up on my back. I brought this up to my doc because I was scared also about what everyone else was saying. And he told me not to worry, if you get up so often to pee at night that you do not stay on your back long enough to cause damage, also if you feel uncomfortable on your back ( like trouble breathing, pain in the pelvic region, headaches) then turn to your side. Other then that its alright.

I have now a beautiful 5 week old baby girl and I slept on my back most nights!

Answer 13

If the blood is not pumping to your heart properly you would feel it, whether by being short of breath, or weak like the blood isnt making it to your limbs kind of feeling.

So if you are comfortably sleeping on you back then I wouldnt worry about it. I am 25 weeks and sleep on my back sometimes too.  

Answer 14

HI Im 27 weeks on Friday and I wake up on my back also, I really dont mean too, but what can you do? you cant wake yourself up? LOL I know It can push on the pain vain that pumps blood to you and our babies. But seriously Im sure its ok.

Yea I know the maturnity pillows are expensive I paied 50$ for mine at Babies R us. But man when you can affored it get one I will even use it after I have the baby!

Answer 15

Sleep on your side the best that you can, even try a small pillow from a dollar store, or roll up a spare sheet.  If you wake up on you back and you are comfortable.. give it another few minutes, then turn.  Your baby is very protected in his/her sack.  

Congrats and continued blessings to you and your baby!