Sleeping on Back HELP!!!!!!

[Kaylynn5]

Is it safe to lie on your back when your 5 months pregnant, like does it harm your baby or does it just harm you?!?!
I herd it just makes it hard for blood flow to the heart or something like that!
I would like to know if it affects my baby though, could someone PLEASE help me out!

[ExpectingaRedhead]

My doc said sleep however you feel comfortable, on your back included.

[Kaylynn5]

Wow, I almost felt like I was at a debate about pregnancy and sleeping habits there for a second haha Very well said all of you, and i will sleep whichever way i please, but with caution, thanks so much guys and good luck with your pregnancies!!

[kjbutcher]

it will be uncomfortable for you before it will hurt the baby.  You are not dropping any rule book.  If you are comfortable, your baby is just fine!  

[irrelevance]

Hahaha.. I had to laugh about that caffiene statement. I agree with that one. hehe.

[alaysha]

Honestly my doctor is head of labor and delivery at our hospital (and I live in no small city) and he told me to sleep however was comfortable to me because the baby is so well protected in there that it doesn't really matter. So many of the pregnancy "rules" sound bogus to me anyways. Like old wives tales. For instance I'm sure if I drink a caffinated beverage (or two) a day my baby isn't going to randomly die from over excitement or have three heads or something.

Its all up to you what you want to do... but pregnancy is hard enough without having to "fear" breathing.

[irrelevance]

It resrtrics blood flow to your legs, actually.. sometimes causing a charlie horse or edema [swelling] in the ankles and feet. it puts extra pressure on your spine.. Uhm, i don't think it really hurts the baby at all. it might make the baby recieve slightly less oxygen while your'e sleeping, and probably put a little more weight on your baby from the top of your uterus, but come on.. like kaylnn5 said, women decades, even centuries ago, slept without being told how to sleep, and had beautiul healthy babies!!!  Sure, it's important to go by the rules, but some of them just make the hardships of being pregnant even harder. i wouldn't worry about it too much personally, until it becomes uncomfortable for you, then you really need to start sleeping on your side.

[njeosys]

Just because someone else's baby turns out fine doesn't make it okay to drop the rule book. Doctors give you that precaution for a reason. It won't cause immediate harm to you or your child, but it can restrict blood flow (making your heart pump faster which makes you higher risk for high blood pressue and other issues). Also, less oxygen is getting to your baby.

Err on the side of caution and try to sleep on your side as much as possible. Rolling over once in a while won't cause harm, but your back will probably thank you later as well.

[Kaylynn5]

Very reassuring, as i love to sleep on my back, its just when i lie on my back my baby kicks alot more so i just get scared and move to my side thinkin maybe he or she is kickin me because they arnt gettin enough blood flow or air or something!
So im gonna go ahead and lie on my back then since it should be ok!
Thanks!

[alaysha]

I think it could restrict blood flow or something like that... but I've been sleeping on my back during my whole pregnancy and my baby is now 38 weeks and very healthy. A lot of these things they tell you during pregnancy (like sleeping positions for instance) I don't take too seriously since my mother and grandmother were never told which way they had to sleep and all their kids came out just fine.