Lying on your back in 2nd trimester

[PipPipPip]

Hi ladies,

my pregnancy book advises against lying on your back from the second trimester onwards.

I'm trying to get to the root of this advice - is it because it might make me feel faint?

If so, is it okay to continue to lying on my back if it DOESN'T make me feel faint?

I sleep on my back and of course I'll stop doing this if it makes me feel faint, but is it okay to continue until then?

I cant, if i wake up on my back i can barely move with pain, but i hobble anyway! Apparently as you get bigger baby can push on major organs causing you to feel faint/breathless

Apparently as long as you are at a 15 degree tilt there no problem anyway.

I often drift off on my back and turn onto my side while sleeping. It's most comfortable for me because my side aches a lot, my physio refers to it as my bad side but I insist on sleeping on it. While I drift off though I get a part of the duvet and tuck it up under my back at one side so I'm not flat on my back but I'm flat enough to drift. Although I'm lucky because I have a double duvet to myself since the OH doesn't finish work till well after I go to bed and has taken to sleeping on the guest bed so that I can have all the room in the world. He's a good 'un really :)

I'm 35 weeks and still sleeping on my back - or rather I wake up and I'm on my back. No problems so far.

Everything I read suggested it was the feeling faint issue. I didn't have problems sleeping on my back until last week (and I'm 38 weeks now) although I do prefer sleeping on my side.

My yoga teacher said that it is okay to do this until 26-29 weeks, assuming one is normal weight and fit, and has no preexisting medical conditions and/or pregnancy related complications...

It started making me feel sick and breathless at about 22 weeks.

Thanks ladies. I think I'll just "enjoy it while it lasts" and then roll over when it gets uncomfortable. Simples :)

Hi pip

I think I read that sleeping on your side ensures optimum blood flow, nutrients etc to baby?

Xxxx

TattyTeddy - well, yeah - if that is the case I'll try to sleep on my side. But not sure if that is an issue at this stage in the pregnancy or only later on?

Hi Pip, I just checked in my book what to expect when you're expecting - it states the following:

Sleeping on your side preferably left allows maximum flow of nutrients and blood to placenta and also enhances kidney function meaning better elimination of waste products and less swelling of ankles, feet and hands.

Hope this helps xxx

during my last pg (in 2008) I was told what tatty just said, but also that if you lie on your back the weight of baby can squash some blood vessels, making you feel faint, and possibly affecting blood flow to baby.

At the time my MW told me to try to sleep on my side, but not to worry if I woke up on my back. As it turned out, I found I was most comfortable sleeping on my side with a pillow between my knees, so I didn't have to worry about it too much.

I'm 34+5 and often wake up (desperate for a wee!) on my back, having gone to sleep on my side. It doesn't seem to make me feel faint, but it does make my back ache, thus making my journey to the toilet slower and more uncomfortable.