[Angelorum]

I'm 26 weeks pregnant and sleeping on my back is still by far the most comfortable position. I've heard varying opinions on the safety of back sleeping, but does anyone know of any articles or studies about it? My midwife is in the "it's not good for the baby" camp. But it just doesn't make sense to me why it would be harmful if it's not uncomfortable. The joints in my hips and pelvis don't like side sleeping.

 

[WeasleyMum]

Trust me, it will start getting uncomfortable soon enough! Your body will tell you when to stop sleeping on your back... mainly by making your butt and legs lose sensation and go all numb and tingly. That's been my experience, so far: that if I'm on my back for more than a few minutes, it hurts!

Right now, it takes about 40 pillows to really get comfortable... one between my legs, behind my back, in my arms, under my head... It's all about finding the least-uncomfortable position.

If back-sleeping is still comfortable for you, I think it's OK. If it were cutting the baby's circulation, it would cut yours too, hence the dead-legs feeling.

 

[AmethystKG]

I agree. I'm 30w2d now and still wake up in the middle of the night and find myself sleeping on my back, even though I fall asleep on my left side. I figure my body will tell me what the best position is.

 

[BlueWolf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmethystKG I agree. I'm 30w2d now and still wake up in the middle of the night and find myself sleeping on my back, even though I fall asleep on my left side. I figure my body will tell me what the best position is.

I wake up on my back too! 28 weeks pregnant here. I haven't experienced any tingle or numb sensation on my back at all. Sometimes it's the only way I can get comfortable too. I feel like I'm causing my baby harm by being on my back, but I cannot control it when I'm sound asleep!

 

[alegna]

If you're comfy it's not hurting anything.

-Angela

 

[XanaduMama]

There's a major blood vessel running down your back that eventually gets compressed by baby's weight if you lie on your back. But as PPs have said, you'll notice it--start feeling tingly, or light-headed. This is definitely a position to avoid during labor!

The only other consideration is fetal positioning: this is the time when you need to start focusing on getting baby into the right position for birth. Personally, I'm so paranoid about having a posterior babe, that I would never lie on my back. (Back of the head is the heaviest part of baby's body, and gravity is going to draw it toward your back if you lie that way enough...)

Do you have a body pillow? It makes side-lying soooo much more comfortable in the last trimester!

 

[mommy2two babes]

Quote:

Originally Posted by alegna If you're comfy it's not hurting anything. -Angela

ITA
With my DS I slept on my back throughout my whole pregnancy. As the PP have said I would go to sleep on my side and wake up on my back.
I am not convinced that it makes for posterior babies either. I was sleeping on my back when my water broke at 7 cm and DS was not posterior.

 

[bemommy]

Sure, side-lying on your left side may be optimal for positioning and blood flow BUT one would think. . from the standpoint of evolution. . that if you are comfortable sleeping in a certain position then there probably isn't anything wrong with it. That's my opinion anyhow.

 

[XanaduMama]

Re. evolution and fetal positioning. That's true, but we also weren't meant to be sitting on soft sofas, in car bucket seats, and sitting at desks all day long either. Fetal positioning happens naturally when you're squatting and bending over to work in the fields; sitting on the floor; and so forth. We have to adjust for our "modern" lifestyles and their effect on fetal positioning.

I agree that you should do what's comfortable when sleeping, as long as you're conscious of your positioning while awake.

 

[bemommy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaduMama Re. evolution and fetal positioning. That's true, but we also weren't meant to be sitting on soft sofas, in car bucket seats, and sitting at desks all day long either. Fetal positioning happens naturally when you're squatting and bending over to work in the fields; sitting on the floor; and so forth. We have to adjust for our "modern" lifestyles and their effect on fetal positioning.

True, but I find those positions of the "modern lifestyle" uncomfortable when not pregnant. . and unbearably so when pregnant. Am I in the minority there? I try to minimize (or eliminate) any time spent in those positions because it is uncomfortable for me. . figuring that it's my body telling me that it's wrong. I would think it would be the same with back sleeping. I personally try to get as close to sleeping on my tummy as I can. . .because that's what's most comfortable for me.