Laying on back

**shanz** · 15-01-2006 19:36

Hey everyone,
I'm after advice on laying on your back whilst pregnant. Everyone seems to be saying it is a big no but WHY? when i ask why no one can answer,just that they were told its bad. My problem is before bub i was a belly or back sleeper as if i lay on my side i get a sore back. Now belly is not an option and Katherine tells me that from 24 weeks you cant lay on your back for longer than a few minutes but she had read somewhere that it is ok if you put a pillow under your back/bum on the right side to prop you up a bit. So how much do i prop myself up. Or does anybody have a magic solution for my problem. Thanks for your help.

**DIANNEKB** · 15-01-2006 19:43

Hi Shandi,

I raised this question with the physio in ante-natal classes.. it's because blood flow can be restricted and you may wake up dizzy.. but the physio said to sleep on your back as long as your comfortable.. I sometimes roll onto my back but now with 4 weeks to go I find I can not sleep on my back so much now cause the weight just puts too much pressure on my back and I can feel all the fluid pushing up against my back... so I would say go with what your body is telling you...

My body now is telling me not to so I dont as much now...

Hope this helps
Di.

**ElectraJewel** · 15-01-2006 19:45

Hey Shanz

Apparently there is an important artery that carries blood to your heart or somethin and that when you lie on your back when pregnant, you can cut off some of the blood supply. The same goes for laying on your right side (so I read somwhere). I'm not sure of the medical terminology or proper details....but I think I read it in "up the duff" (Kaz Cooke) and my obstetrician told me the same. Hope this helps.

**drewid** · 15-01-2006 19:46

I think its discouraged because lying on your back encourages your baby (by way of gravity and all that hoo haa) to lie face up, so that their spine is along your spine - ie. posterior.

Its really best to lie on your left side in the latter stages of pregnancy to encourage optimal positioning. If you need to lie down, you could lie on your back but prop some pillows under your right hand side, so you are supported, but on a bit of a lean, if that makes sense.

Sleeping on your belly doesn't have to be a no-no...you can prop pillows below your belly and above and around, so that your belly isn't being squished. Its actually really comfy. Its somethign that the physio recommends after birth as well.

(ps. oh yeah, and the blood thingy too - also very true!! propping up helps with that also)

HTH!

**mumoftwoboys2005** · 15-01-2006 19:48

I had to have an ultrasound at 37 weeks as they thought bub was breech. Thank goodness he wasn't, but I had to be helped to sit up after 10 minutes as I was so dizzy I couldn't decide if I was going to pass out or be sick. Apparently there are some major arteries that are very restricted by us lying on our back whilst heavily pregnant. I spent most of my last few weeks on my right side as my left side would go numb.

It was worth it in the end though.

**veve** · 15-01-2006 19:57

one of the best tips I got while pregnant was to buy a body pillow. I too was a tummy sleeper... as my back aches if I sleep on my side... but having the body pillow (it is like the length of three pillows... you can get them from $20+ at pillowtalk) keeps your shoulders and hips in better alignment and you (well I didn't) get the back ache as much...

hope this helps!!!

xxx

**Goosie22** · 15-01-2006 20:14

Original poster mumoftwoboys2005

Apparently there are some major arteries that are very restricted by us lying on our back whilst heavily pregnant.

Yes that right and the name of the major artery is your AOTRA your major blood vessle running directly from your heart sending Oxygen to your body and your baby. It runs directly under your UTERUS and is compressed if you lay on your back ie cutting circulation off to the rest of your body hence the dizzy feeling

If you put a pillow under you bum on the right it tilts your uterus to the left therefore the pressure is off, your body will tell you if your cutting the circulation off.

**reAllytee** · 15-01-2006 20:27

Goosie i have to say your becoming our latest guru

*bows*

**dannii** · 15-01-2006 21:04

Originally Posted by veve

one of the best tips I got while pregnant was to buy a body pillow. I too was a tummy sleeper... as my back aches if I sleep on my side... but having the body pillow (it is like the length of three pillows... you can get them from $20+ at pillowtalk) keeps your shoulders and hips in better alignment and you (well I didn't) get the back ache as much...

hope this helps!!!

xxx

oh i totally agree, the body pillows are the best!

as for not allowed to sleep on your back, i got told the same thing, but i wasnt able to lay on my back anyways, always made me feel sick !!

**shanz** · 16-01-2006 08:11

hey guys thanks for the replies,i will be going to try and find a body pillow today. Any other ideas on where to get them from. I dont have a pillowtalk nearby.