Back sleeping

[2020wish]

I’m 21/22 weeks pregnant and the only position I can comfortably sleep in is on my back.. not lying flat tho, as I have a large u shaped pregnancy pillow that props my head and shoulders up and then tucks under my knees.

I do try and only lie like this for a bit to help my back aches and then I will try and force myself to sleep on my sides but every morning I am waking up from a deep sleep on my back. I’m conscious of putting pressure on my vena cava and reducing blood flow so I’m getting quite panicky about it but I can’t seem to stop it while in a deep sleep: I do feel fine other than that when back sleeping.

Anyone else? Any advice?

... interested to watch this thread as I’m 14 weeks tomorrow and expecting twins so already have a bump. I always wake up on my back. I start on my side but my lower back is beginning to feel the strain. I don’t have a special pillow yet but am putting a regular pillow under belly/ between knees.

I have a dreamgeni pregnancy pillow, hated it with my first, I’m 19 weeks with my second and it’s the best thing ever!

It keeps me on my side, and I ‘flip flap’ through the night as my hubby calls it - turn side to side A LOT, I either have the big bit of pillow under bump and between knees, or the tiny bit supporting bump and the long bit cushioning my back (probably not how it’s meant to be used but meh, it works for me!)

Oh yes me too. I was a front sleeper but obviously can't do that any more (26 wks nows). I have had lots of back trouble too and the only way I'm comfortable is on my back. I keep trying to turn back to my sides but always wake up on my back...

I think that this will be the case for a lot of women....it just isn't possible to control movement etc during sleep, so try not to worry. Just jeep adjusting yourself into a side lying position when you're able to. Also, you're still quite early pregnancy. As your uterus grows and gets much heavier, it's quite likely that you will wake up if you've been lying on your back for quite a while, as it can make women feel short of breath, dizzy, or even nauseous, and this will often wake you up. Your body knows!

P.S. you could also try putting something behind your back that will prevent you from rolling over.

I'm a front and side sleeper generally but do lie on my back sometimes. i'm 15 weeks so still able to sleep on my front. I did read about putting a pair of socks in the back of your pjs secured by a hair band or something so if you roll on your back it will be uncomfy and you will turn over?!

Honestly, you can tell when the blood flow is being reduced, it makes you feel ill so if it was happening then you won't be comfortable anyway, as you say you're propped up.
I was at the dentist when I was 32 weeks pregnant and had to lie flat for 2 fillings and a scale and polish, it wasn't pleasant. Luckily the dentist was aware I would be feeling faint because of it and did let me up twice during the procedures.

Even at 39 weeks I wake up on my back sometimes but my body is waking me up as it's not comfortable.
Don't worry about it.

I wake up on my back every night.
I am 20w4 so also starts overthinking my sleep position at night and keep tossing and turning.
Being on my sides hurts my sides and hips.
I am normally a front and back sleeper so really struggling atm.
My sleep is terrible and i eventually give up and just go on my back or half front.
I think it's inevitable.
My mum who was pregnant with twins slept on her back until 38 weeks and just told me she had never heard that she wasn't supposed to and was fine.
Obviously that was 31 years ago... but my point is, do your best but don't beat yourself up too much over it.

As you get bigger it gets more and more difficult to turn over. I'm usually a back sleeper whichever position I start in but from about 28 weeks I tended to stay in the position I started in, now at 35 weeks I'm like a massive beached whale unable to turn even when I want to. Plus You can't sleep anyway in the third trimester so no point worrying 😂

I'm having twins (26 weeks now) would normally sleep on my front. I find I start on my side but because gravity then makes both babies shift on to my left it's quite uncomfortable and I'll
Often sleep on my back for a bit - I think as long as you spent a proportion of the night on your side you should be fine

I’m in exactly the same position. The recommendation is only to stop sleeping on your back in the third trimester though... so I’m trying to enjoy it guilt-free while I can.

Thanks ladies for replying. I feel more at ease now :)