Quick question - sleeping on my back??

[Tex111]

Last time around I remember reading or being told that at some point in the pregnancy I should stop sleeping on my back because the uterus gets heavy enough and puts pressure on a major artery in my back which decreases the oxygen reaching the baby. Problem is, I can't remember at one point this happens and can't find it in any books, etc. Does anyone know??

Hi Tex,

yep you're right. Sleeping on your back causes the babys weight to press down on major blood vessels running up your back , which can make you dizzy as your blood pressure drops. Sleeping on your back also aggrevated piles. hth.

Tex111 - I'd heard about the lowering blood pressure and dizziness, but never that it decreases the supply to the baby though!

As longs as you're propped up with plenty pillow its okay. You don't have much choice later on! My baby is lying transverse and is kicking me so hard in the hips that I can't sleep on my side either. So I'm on my back with about 40 pillows!

I'd heard this too and was told that you ought to lie on your left hand side because that ensures a better supply of oxygen to the placenta. I do try to sleep on my left side (and I find it more comfortable at the moment) but as sobernow says, it's not always possible to know where you'll end up!

I think you sleep however it's comfortable for you. For most people it becomes impossible to lie comfortably on your back once you've got very big, so you stop then. But if it's still comfortable for you then it's not going to harm the baby, and they soon let you know if they're not comfortable, with a lot of wriggling.

I Had 3 children and ive always slept on my back only way to get comp there was no problem with me when i asked my midwife she told me that the problems they say you can get is different for everyone so i say if your comfy do whats best for you. Or lying on your side is quite nice and prop your your bump up with a maternity pillow

Sleep however you find it most comfortable Tex.

I am 35+4 and up until now have alternated throughout the night from left side, to back, then onto right side etc - However, i now find it too unconfortable lying on back - feels like my skin is soooo stretched it is going to rip .

Coincidence: I woke up this morning lying on my back and feeling dizzy. I could see lights from my left eye and they wouldn't stop for 20 minutes. I knew what it was straight away as I was told by my midwife to avoid sleeping on my back as it could cause fainting. I was quite worried when it happenned actually, but the fact of knowing why reassured me. I sat up and sipped some water, and felt better after 20-30 minutes. However I've had a headache ever since. I'm gonna watch the way I lie now, even though lying on my back is the most comfortable for me, and when I fall asleep I seem to automatically turn on my back. I think it's if you stay in that position for too long (I was sleeping very deeply).

Thanks for all the info. Last time I slept with a pillow tucked behind me as dinosaur described and that helped but at the moment I keep waking up flat on my back. Obviously my preferred position. You've all reassured me though that it won't be the end of the world if I end up on my back for a bit. I'm sure as I get bigger it'll become more uncomfortable and be a much less attractive sleeping position for me. Thanks!