Reduced movements connected to sleeping on back?

[Bonnylassie]

Hi wonder if i could tap in to the vast mn knowledge - I am 29+4, on Tuesday I noticed babys movements were really reduced but wondered if I was a bit stressed as started our house move on Monday and had an interview on Tuesday but I rang my midwife who suggested I go to the local hospital for a check up (I was out of area). They did a trace and babys heartbeat healthy, I had an appointment with the consultant the following day at my hospital anyway so they did the follow up. Now been told after a growth scan baby measuring slightly small - 28 weeks but they aren't worried. Felt more movement last night/this morning but wondered if the fact I keep waking up on my back (fall asleep on my side) might have an effect on her reduced movements? I have tonnes of pillows at my back which sort of keeps me of my back when I roll, just wondered if there was a connection or not? Thanks for your replies in advance

You might not feel her in that position - simple as that.

I had a trace as couldn't feel dd2 at all for a whole day, was beside myself, yet as soon as I was monitored I could hear her going mental but still couldn't feel anything and I was about 34 weeks

Hi, i had my first active birth class appt last night and this was 1 of the things the midwife spoke about, she says its very easy to go and google things when your first pregnant and one of the great myths is that you can sleep on your back.

the fact that you have 2 major veins running down your back is the reason why but as long as you have 1 or 2 pillows for your head you will be ok, if you think when you go for a scan or check up your propped up slightly and this is the reason why. if something where to happen the person who would feel it is you not the baby and the most likliest thing is that you would feel faint and therefore move into a differnet position anyway. like the previous person said you probably just cant feel your baby as much when its lying in that position.

Thanks for that just worrying that my sleeping position was affecting her, thanks for the reassurance! You are right mrfreeze shouldn't go on Google when pregnant, puts all sorts of ideas in your head! :)

Firstly I suspect that finding yourself waking up on your back is NOT causing your baby any harm. As the others say, you probably just can't feel him/her in certain positions. The hospital tests are really reassuring.

The advice about not sleeping on your back is however sensible and based on anatomy and physiology....

The heart pumps blood around your body. Blood circulates from your heart around your body in a series of tubes (arteries and veins). The aorta is the large artery which delivers blood full of oxygen from the heart to your body and therefore your placenta and baby. Blood is returned to your heart in another tube (a large vein) called the Vena Cava.

These big blood vessels run from your heart, in the the middle of your chest down your back to just below your belly button where they divide into smaller tubes. Your womb and baby lie in front of these blood vessels and when lying on your back their combined weight can squash these tubes and affect the way blood flows around the body. A bit like standing on a hose pipe.

This can make you feel faint, dizzy and sick as there is less blood flowing to your head. If you feel like this then there is also less blood flowing to your placenta and baby. Lying on your side takes the pressure of your womb and baby off these blood vessels.

Not all women feel unwell when lying on their backs, however, the further on in pregnancy you are, and the bigger your womb and baby, the more likely you are to be affected.

Sorry Mrfreeze, propping your head on pillows will make no difference as this does not relieve the pressure on the blood vessels which are situated much lower down the body.