Is it really unsafe to lay on your back during pregnancy?

[Chelle1986]

At 26 weeks, flat on my back is one of the few positions I actually feel comfortable in....is it really as dangerous as some sites make out?

Dangerous? Why? First I've heard of it. I found lying on my side most comfy.

But if you are streching your legs, don't point your toes - cramp!

The info I've found seems to suggest that if you're comfy like that, your bump probably isn't putting pressure on any major blood vessels anyway. I'm only 14 weeks but if I lie on my back for more than a minute or so I get dizzy and sick!

I asked a midwife this when I was pregnant and I don't think it's the end of the world, you're unlikely to stay in that position long enough to cut off the bloodflow to that nerve (I can't quite remember and I could be talking arse, but I got the impression it wasn't totally terrible?)

I never knew that lying on my back wasn't recomended until I saw an episode of 'The Doctors' the other day. Have a look at this www.thedoctorstv.com/main/procedure_list/593

I'm not convinced that we could have evolved for this to be a real problem. Obviously if you don't feel well lying on your back then don't do it, but I am not going to worry too much about it.

The way I understand it is if you start feeling faint and unwell while lying on your back, then do change position immediately, as the weight of your uterus on the vena cava is cutting of your and your baby's oxygen supply.
If you should sleep on your back and this problem should develop, you would wake up due to the discomfort and thus be able to change your position.

So, over all, no problem as long as you feel good, but if you don't feel good, then change position.

Agree with Meita. I am 33 weeks pregnant and I don't have any problems going to sleep on my back, although I do tend to sleep on either side throughout the night. I spoke to my midwife about it who said that as long as I'm comfortable, it's fine - even in sleep, my body will recognise if circulation is being affected and I'll naturally shift positions! She said that in late pregnancy it can be tough enough getting sleep so whatever you find comfortable is fine! I do find that an extra pillow has helped considerably.

When I do my antenatal yoga class the instructor always says that you can lay on your back until 30 weeks for the relaxation otherwise you should lay on your side, left preferably.

I am very comfortable on my back (although I snore so my husbnad's not keen!) but will be 30 weeks on Tuesday so was thinking I might reconsider. It makes sense that you would wake up and move if it was dangerous but I dont know anymore about it personally.

There is a big vein leading to your heart - the vena cava, which your growing uterus can put pressure on. Here are some articles about what effects lying on your back can have.

I personally find it very uncomfortable and have difficulty breathing when on my back - am 20 weeks and feel faint pretty quickly, but i guess it depends on the individual.

I don't know how dangerous it is, but it makes me feel sick, dizzy and faint so I don't do it.

I think if you are comfortable then it?s safe- it depends on where the baby is lying as to whether it compresses the major artery or not. I get dizzy and breathless so I can?t do it any more ?everything I?ve read says that you feel the affects way before any damage is done to the baby, so don?t worry.

I find that I can't breathe easily if I lie on my back. It also makes me feel slightly dizzy so I avoid it (am 37 wks). Ofcourse everyone is different and if it's the only position you can sleep in then just carry on with this unless you feel uncomfortable in which case you will probably turn over to one of your sides anyway.

If you're comfortable then I wouldn't worry. I've been quite uncomfortable on my back since about 30 weeks, and it wakes me up in the night now if I roll onto my back.

I'm working on the basis that as long as I am feeling okay then it must be okay - reckon I'd start feeling faint etc. before it does any harm to me or baby.

Am 34 weeks and still sleeping on front, back and both sides depending on what is comfortable that night. Am trying to go to sleep on my left but doesn't always stay that way for very long

Interesting to see everyone's views on this. I was totally paranoid about this in my first pregnancy, but couldn't sleep on either of my sides for longer than 30 minutes due to hip pain. In this preg, I am taking a more relaxed approach and going with the notion that we wouldn't have evolved to do terrible damage if we rolled onto our backs in the night! My GP when asked seemed very relaxed and said it was only sometimes a problem when doing caesarian sections for term pregnancies - sometimes then they had to wedge the woman slightly on one side to take pressure of the vena cava.

I'm a big believer in listening to your body and no-one knows your body better than you do... If it feels ok carry on, if anything is uncomfortable stop.