Lying on back

[JuniorMint]

I'm 21 weeks, and I know that in supposed to avoid sleeping on my back. Have for a support pillow and been duly sleeping on my side. However, I do still lie back on my back on the sofa or on the bed when reading or watching TV for maybe up to an hour at a time. Is this ok or should I always be on my side whenever i get horizontal?!
TIA

I wouldn't worry to be honest. I think you'd know to turn over long before any harm can be done - asleep or awake. I know that sometimes if I'm lying dead flat on my back in bed I start to feel a bit queasy / odd so know to turn over (32 weeks at the moment).

Doubt you're absolutely flat when you're on the sofa or bed if you're watching TV so as long as your back's propped up even slightly with a cushion or pillow I think you'll be fine - just keep an eye on how you feel.

I tried to religiously sleep on my left side when pregnant with DS1, had a support pillow etc and found it really uncomfortable but soldiered on. Now, we have a new foam mattress which means I can comfortably still sleep partially on my front in the 'recovery' position so I tend to do this most of the time, even at 32 weeks. Although DS2 is starting to protest slightly at this.... Never mind kid, only 7 or so weeks to go and you can have your revenge through inflicting sleep deprivation to the point of hallucination on me...just like DS1

I don't think you need to worry too much - I sometimes do get very dizzy when on my back, and sometimes it's the only position I can sleep in. I think it always depends on where baby is, as well, and which bits are pressing where...

Im 28 weeks and am always on my back - it's the only position I really feel comfortable in at night. Plus, it's the position where I feel the baby move the most so I naturally want to lie that way so I can sense all his lovely kicks and wriggles

Thanks everyone Yes at the moment it is still comfortable to be on my back, but perhaps as I get bigger it will become less comfortable as some of you have mentioned and that will force my more onto my side!

I go to sleep on my side and keep waking on my back. I really don't know how to stop it. I wedge a pillow behind me at night but since my bed isn't against a wall it drops out of the bed. I think in our parents day there was no advice about sleeping positions so I think it's not dire if we do end up on our backs. Plus, I got very sore sleeping in one position in my first pregnancy. We aren't meant to be in a fixed position for several hours.

I wouldn't worry about which way you lie tbh. if you lie on your back you put pressure on the vena cava which risks cutting flow off to your legs but you know what that feels like so you'll move if it happens. on your right can give you heartburn but you'll move if you get it, on your front is hard to get comfortable so you'll move. you're not going to hurt the baby, just yourself but you're unlikely to allow that to happen.

I always sleep on my right side, which you arent supposed to do either, and now 38 weeks. It's my natural sleeping position and never managed to get out of the habit. Sometimes wakes up feeling a bit breathless but turn over and I'm fine again within a few minutes (then fall back to sleep and wake up on my right side!) If you're comfortable on your back just get on with it,it's not doing the baby any harm and you'll know about it long before it does you any.

I was just about to start a thread about lying on your back, this is baby #3 for me I keep reading about not supposed to, yet I can never remember a midwife telling me not to. Every time I go to an appt I forget to ask though! Surely if it was that important they would tell you in the do's/don'ts at the beginning?