laying on my back at nightI

[steph000]

I dont know if this may sound really silly but with it being myt first pregnany and listening and beleiving everything i hear am now worried that i am causing some kind of damage when i am sleeping on my back at night, should i be sleeping on my left side i thought i heard somewhere. x

Laying on your back in the early stages is okayish but when you start to get bigger, its not recommended as it puts pressure on major vessels in the back - it gets too uncomfortable anyway!

The left side is said to be better for lying on as it facilitates the blood flow to the heart, but I reasoned that the blood will flow to heart even if I was hanging upside down so didn't pay too much attention to that and used to lay on my right side and DS turned out fine!

In late pregnancy you might well find you feel a bit faint when you lie on your back but if you wake up in that position it won't do any harm. Plus it is more of a problem if you are completely flat and of course in bed you will probably be using a pillow. It is important not to lie completely flat while you are in labour, especially if you have an epidural as this can reduce the amount of oxygen the baby receives. Relax and enjoy your pregnancy

left side is best for optimum blood flow eetc to baby, but not compulsory! i was only comfy on my right!

lying on your back, as has been said, can be an issue when you are bigger, as you will get faint and fell ick!

nothing like that can hurt the baby though!

How far on are you? I'm still quite comfortable on my back at night and I'm 23 weeks. Although I am starting to go to sleep on my side more often now!

I was worried (1st pg too) and asked my mw and she said it was ok because when I really got too big it would actually be uncomfortable to sleep on my back. I was worried about too much weight on the main vein (as you read about!) but mw said I would actually wake up at night if I was doing any damage - I think it can make you feel faint.

I'd also heard about sleeping on LHS and I do try to do that but I've a feeling that it's got something to do with positioning the baby at a later stage??? May be wrong...

I have to admit I am 27 weeks gone and often fall asleep or wake up on my back (when in bed). Like others have said your body will let you know when you shouldn't do it- by feeling faint or sick. I have 2 big pillows under my head so I'm not lying flat, and wouldn't lie on my back on the floor for instance. I do try to sleep on my sides when I can but you end up in the comfiest position & can't control that when you're asleep!! Trust your body- you will be fine!