Laying on back

[Ky]

I was a belly sleeper (still am!) right up until the night before I had my c/sections. I would just sleep with two pillows under my head (three towards the end) a pillow under my chest (2 towards the end) and just added others in places taht made me feel comfortable!

My last bub was 13lb 2oz and I was carrying 6 litres of fluid, so as you can imagine ... I was huge! Bub was also incredibly active and as I spent 6 ½ weeks in hospital before he was born, the midwives would stand by my door and watch me bounce up and down in my sleep as bub moved about!

Just find a way to make yourself comfortable ... doesn't matter how silly it looks ... and get plenty of sleep!

[uptheduff]

i bought a body pillow several years ago from target....no idea if they still have them though!

[DIANNEKB]

I bought my body pillow from Baines.. not sure if you have one over there...

Di..xxx

[justme]

Hi all,
I think it's actually the blood vessel called the 'inferior vena cava' whose blood supply gets restricted when you lie on your back. The aorta is the huge blood vessel attached to the heart that takes the oxygen and blood out of your heart to your body.

I think that's right, but would welcome anyone else who could enlighten us.

ciao for now

[pegasus]

Hi

Justme is right - it is the inferior vena cava (and your intestines) which lying on your back places pressure on. The inferior vena cava is responsible for returning blood from the lower body to the heart. Pressure on this area can aggravate backaches and haemorrhoids, inhibit digestive function, interfere with breathing and circulation, and possibly cause hypotension (low blood pressure).

I was told to avoid sleeping on your back after 4months, however, after checking up with my midwife and physio as I was concerned about doing abdominal exercise etc, I was basically told that your body will alert you to get off your back before you have any real problems. I guess the above info is for really heavy sleepers

PS I'm usually a belly sleeper, but couldn't get comfy in this position, so ended sleeping with about 4pillows in lieu of a body pillow.

[Kirstlea]

I have seen those pillows at Big W and Myers

Best thing since sliced bread

Worked for me

[Foxymoron]

Justme is right - it is the inferior vena cava (and your intestines) which lying on your back places pressure on. The inferior vena cava is responsible for returning blood from the lower body to the heart. Pressure on this area can aggravate backaches and haemorrhoids, inhibit digestive function, interfere with breathing and circulation, and possibly cause hypotension (low blood pressure).

Yeppers all that is Spot on! And if your circulation is compromised, so is your babes!

If you can lay at all on your left side you'll be doing your body a big favour, even when not preggie

[Lisa&Davey]

Hi Shanz, I'm from April babies too.

I love my body pillow! I've seen them at some Targets but got mine from Baines. I call it my cuddle pillow because I sandwich it between my legs and arms and lean onto it. I'm normally a belly sleeper but have found this to be an excellent alternative.

When I'm away from home and need to rest, I lie on my back but with my right leg bent up. I find this tilts my body just a little leaving me very comfy and I assume by zero dizziness, etc. it is letting the blood flow.

P.S. The artery that gets restricted is the main blood flow to the placenta I am told so it is important not to compress it.

[shanz]

Hey everyone,thanks for all the advice. I purchased a body pillow from spotlight and have been using it on bad nights as i find it hard to get to sleep at the best of times and toss and turn heaps,so i guess when i get a bit bigger and cant move as much it will be really handy. But thank you everyone for your tips.

[♥Heaven Sent♥]

I was also told that it cuts off blood flow and oxygen to the placenta by my OB and also the artery thing.