How long can I continue to sleep on my stomach?

[FLbaby]

I am currently 15 weeks pregnant and have always slept on my stomach.  Can I continue to do this or am I risking damaging the baby this early on?  At what point do you have to switch to your side, and does it really matter which side?  Thank you so much for your help!

[Gili]

FLbaby,
I have a similar problem as you do, but sleeping on my back.  My OB has been reluctant to tell me it's okay to sleep in any position other than side.  My mom and aunts tell me that in the old days they sleep however they feel comfortable and their babies come out fine.  My feeling is that if you sleep on your stomach later on, you will start to feel uncomfortable.  When I have backache, I opt to put two pillows under my tights and chest and rest on my stomach.  That way, the stomach if lifted off from pressure and your tummy is not technically resting on the bed, but off the bed.  My OB recommend me to sleep with a pillow under one side so I'm somewhat 45 degree on the side.  It works okay so far.

Good luck.  Sleeping is a nightmare when you tummy gets bigger.

[jian]

Hi...Firstly it is better to sleep on your left side bco'z the utrus put pressure on some veins/arteries if you sleep on your back.And these veins are placed towards rt side of our body.

Guess it is Ok to sleep on your tummy as long as you are comfortable.I am 18 wks and still sleep on my tummy, but not entirely,I keep my one leg straight and the other bend so that the tummy is not pressed on to the matterss.
You can try this, I hv read in many Pregnancy/maternity books that is is safe as long as u are comforatble.

[Trudy80]

I heard that later in pregnancy the ball in front of your tummy will be too uncomfortable to sleep on belly....sleeping on your back reduces the oxygen flow to your baby and it is best to sleep on your left side as this promotes the oxygen flow to your baby the best.

[duehring]

I sleep on my tummy until I physically can't anymore. I have had 5 healthy babies.

One thing you might want to try is to get a body pillow and sleep on your tummy but have that under you to tilt your body some. That will also help you get ready to move to your side which eventually will have to happen. At the end it hurts too bad to sleep on your back and is impossible to sleep on your tummy.

Sleeping on you tummy isn't going to hurt your baby though.

[ni-ki]

sleeping on your stomach and back is both bad... when you sleep on your back it puts pressure on the placenta and cuts off the blood supply to the baby my doctor used to yell at me all the time b/c i told her i was sleeping on my back said it wasn't good.. if you do sleep on your back its better to be angled so your not directly on your back..... and as far as stomach i think once your tummy gets bigger being on your tummy isn't gonna be so comfy your gonna want to lay on your side or something

[Me2mommy2b]

Hi, everyone.  I just looooove sleeping on my tummy and it was one of the most difficult things to give up when my belly grew bigger.  I slept on my stomach until I felt uncomfortable to do that anymore.  My ob/gyn told me that sleeping on your stomach is not harmful for the baby b/c of all the fluid that we have in there, we can't exactly squeeze the baby.  That's why we have that fluid to protect the baby from all the shocks and pressures (to the point, of course).  Sleeping on the back is not recommended b/c it's believed to cut off the blood circulation to the uterus (unless you've got pillows under your head and you're upper torso is slighly elevated). Plus, you won't be able to, once the baby's large enough to press on your spine, you'll be uncomfortable.  I got into the habit of sleeping on either left or right side.

[CrystalO]

When I found it it was best to sleep on the left side, my nights suddenly became very uncomfortable as I'm a "tosser and turner."  I find myself waking up in the middle of the night sleeping on my back or right side and I immediately flip over to the left side again.  It's really annoying, but the earlier you begin sleeping on your left side, the easier it'll be later (I imagine).  I sometimes sleep on my left side with my left leg slightly bent up and it seems to be slightly more comfortable.  I'll be going purchasing a body pillow soon. :)  Best wishes to everyone!  Here's hoping for some good sleep-filled nights ahead!