Sleeping on your back

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

I was just wondering how bad is it really to sleep on your back....I don't mean to and I go to sleep on my side but in the middle of the night my back starts hurting so badly I end up waking up on my back.......I know the weight of your uterus is suppose to do something bad but I just wonder how bad....I don't mean to do it and I know my uterus is alot heavier than a woman with just one baby.....

[sha21]

Well I've read many different articles that say sleeping on your back isn't good at all. I guess it cuts the circulation off to baby. When I was pregnant with my son i couldn't get comfortable so I found a way. I used like 5-6 pillows, one I slept on, on under my belly, one between my knees, and one behind my back. It was so hard to sleep on my side, I know what you feel like. Hope that helps, if I can find what website I was on that I read the article about sleeping on your back I'll let you know.

[110279hld]

I think that having a cord accident by sleeping on your back is very rare - I think that is more for your ciruclation.  The uterus puts pressure on the major arteries going to your legs...so they say don't lay on your back.  Left side is the best for circulation.  I woke up every morning, including the morning I delivered on my back. My doc said there was nothing you could do about it.  Did you try a pregnancy pillow - I found that helped me a little.

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

I haven't got a pregnancy pillow yet but will consider it....i've been sleeping with a pillow under my belly and the curve in my side and one between my knees and 33-4 under my head LOL but still end up on my back..

[sewpretty]

sleeping on your back isn't an issue until you're pretty far along.  that's correct about the uterus getting too heavy and cuts off circulation.  
If you naturally wake up on your back then it probably isn't a big deal.  Either yours isn't heavy enough or it's in a position that doesn't affect the artery.
If it is cutting off the circulation you WILL know about it!  your legs will get tingly and you'll have a hard time breathing.

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

I'm only 5 months but I'm larger than most women 8-9 months already......so that's why I worry......and I heard it is the problem that it could cut of circulation to that babies....not me I'm worried about..... and me being so large already it's the only way my back doesn't hurt.......

[sha21]

Just speak with your doctor and see what they say. If you wake up that way i don't know how you can prevent if from happening.

[sewpretty]

try piling up pillows so you're sleeping on an incline.  
that should keep the pressure off of the artery so you'll keep your circulation going.
if you're more worried about the babies than your own comfort then sleeping on your left side is best and maybe try some pillows behind your back for support.  they make those huge pillows specifically for this and I've seen them at Babies R Us but they're a little pricy.  when my back hurts sometimes I sleep on the couch so that I can lean my back against the back of the couch.

[sameerab]

i have a pregnancy pillow and i still end up on my back...i personally dont think its as bad as everyone is portraying maybe when im 8 or 9 months but right now it feels wayyy better then the hip pain i get from sleeping on my side

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I slept on my back the majority of the time with my last two pregnancies but I tried to prop up further with pillows behind me, one under each arm and one under my knees.  
This time I sleep more on my side with 2-3 pillows under my head and one between my knees but I get so uncomfortable i sometimes roll onto my back...but I put the pillow UNDER my legs and kinda of cocked myself to the right side so all the pressure isn't on my back...

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

humm well I have an appt today so I'll ask about it and like I said i'm only 51/2 months but the size of a woman 8-9 months already......I do sleep on an incline I have 3-4 under my head but I might try piling some behind me so I don't roll over......

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I think as long as you aren't flat on your back the pressure won't be as much so you should be ok.  

[chitten]

My midwife says its fine and that no matter what you do ppl are always gonna suggest something is harmful or dangerous. She says from about 8 months it can put pressure on your circulation.

She says many women continue to sleep on their tummies until its uncomfortable and she has (having been a midwife for 30 years) never seen any complications due to this