Sleeping on your back - can someone clear this up?

[lubella]

I have read in by very informative Pregnancy book that women should avoid sleeping on their backs during pregnancy as it can cut off the oxygen to the placenta and hence the baby..I am really surprised this is not made more known to women - my mother and work collegues had not heard this - is it a reletively new theory? Thoughts appreciated as always...

it was a big thing when I was PG with ds3 3yr ago.

I knew this with ds 3 years ago too. I think more than anything else, it's too uncomfortable to do it for long anyway. I've inadvertently done it a couple of times and it made me feel really sick and faint. Isn't it because the weight of the uterus, baby, etc is pressing on one of the major arteries that runs along the bottom of your back? I'm sure that's what I read, so it affects the blood flow round your body.

I hadn't heard of this till this pg. I start off on my side but normally always end up on my back.

Have to admit I knew about this during first pregnancy 3 years ago

I have never known about this fact and was not told about it while pg.
I don't often sleep on my back anyway, more often on my front or side. Think the first I heard of this is on MN after I had ds!

sorry this may sound utterly dim but can someone tell me what ds stands for?

I read about this when pregnant with dd1 (now 22 months) I think you are not supposed to sleep on your left side either - because of reduced blood flow etc - but somehow your right side is O.K - don't know why - doesn't leave you with many options does it!

I must admit when pregnant with dd2 (now 6 months) I did occasionally sleep on my back - esp in the early days. (She is fine BTW)

i found it too uncomfortable to sleep on my back but slept mainly on my left side. used blow up air mattress in the latter stages for comfort. maybe someone should design a hammock as they have on the space shuttles for pregant women

ds is son.

I've read that you are better off sleeping on your left side due to arteries, oxygen, blood flow etc???

have found this info on the babycentre website:

Sleeping on your back puts the full weight of your uterus on your back, intestines, and the inferior vena cava (the vein that transports blood from your lower body to your heart). Lying on your back can also increase the risk of you developing backaches and haemorrhoids, poor digestion, impaired breathing and circulation, and even low blood pressure.

It's a good idea to teach yourself to sleep on your left side during the first months of pregnancy. This position helps blood and nutrients flow to the foetus and uterus and helps the kidneys eliminate waste and fluids. Getting used to this position now will help you to sleep better as your tummy grows.

I do tend to sleep on either my right or left side - I have to heave myself over when I get too uncomfortable on one side. I have woken up on my back a couple of times and felt really uncomfortable so I just turn back on to my side again. I think if you got too uncomfy on your back you would wake up anyway.

I asked about this at my 20 scan last week (first baby) and was told its absolutely fine up until about week 30. I always sleep on my back, always have ... its the most comfortable position for me, so was obviously a little worried when i read the exact same article a wee while ago. But I'm pretty sure if it was putting too much pressure on any point of my body during the night, i'd notice and move my position accordingly. and With my shocking sleep patterns anyway, i'm definitely working on the "if it feels comfortable, stick with it!"

At my advanced stage, I'd stick with any position that lets me go off to sleep and stay asleep. If sleeping on your back is cutting off blood supply, your body will tell you to move anyway - eg. I get a bit short of breath, like something is not right. As it is, I am shifting positions throughout the night.