When to stop laying on back?

[Nenibay]

I forgot to ask my OB this week. When is it advised to stop laying flat on your back. Thanks!

[D2M]

I asked my doctor about this at my last appointment and she immediately said the lying-on-your-back ban was "one of the biggest myths" about pregnancy. If you can breathe, your baby can breathe, she said. So until lying on your back gets uncomfortable (and for some women later in pregnancy, it can indeed make breathing difficult), sleep however you want.

[cmarie11]

Jan 25, 2014 9:14:41 GMT -5 D2M said:

I asked my doctor about this at my last appointment and she immediately said the lying-on-your-back ban was "one of the biggest myths" about pregnancy. If you can breathe, your baby can breathe, she said. So until lying on your back gets uncomfortable (and for some women later in pregnancy, it can indeed make breathing difficult), sleep however you want.

This is pretty much what my midwife said. She said sleep however you can get comfortable, and your body will tell you if you need to change positions.

[bowies]

I read that your body will naturally know - if you're on your back and breathing becomes difficult or your leg gets numb, you'll just roll over in your sleep to correct it. I just started noticing this myself, but I think it has more to do with my recent sinusitis battle than pregnancy.

[timorousbeastie]

Exactly what others have said - you'll know if it's an issue, otherwise you can keep lying on your back, no harm to the baby. I have to sleep propped up really high to prevent heartburn; as a result, I didn't have any issues sleeping on my back until ~35 wks (I couldn't lay on my back when flat). If I wind up on my back now, I just naturally roll over.

[andthentherewere10]

I agree with cmarie. I just sleep in whatever way is comfy without thinking about it.

[Yankees21]

I'll ditto the others, I think laying on your back just gets uncomfortable/hard to breathe as you get bigger, so they recommend you get used to another method to make it easier, I was a stomach sleeper but got a Snoogle early on to get used to sleeping on my side, even though it wasn't necessary at that time.

[VillainV]

I am still comfortable laying on my back at 31 weeks, so I will occasionally do it. I try to sleep on my side for the most part, but if I can only get comfortable on my back then I'll sleep on my back.

[speckledfrog]

Ditto PPs. You'll when you should stop. I always felt a little "off" if I laid on my back too long.

[pitterwoo]

I keep trying to train myself to stop sleeping on my back, but at 23 weeks, it's still comfortable for me and I end up there quite a bit. I feel reassured that when I can no longer do it that I'll know.

[winemaker06]

I have always been a side sleeper, but for some reason kept waking up on my back once pregnant. I have found that since 30 weeks or so, I finally stopped rolling onto my back while asleep. I think all the weight in my belly is keeping me on my side now! :-D

[simpsongal]

DH and I were freaking out about this around 20 weeks. I would be laying on the couch and he would scold me. But after a while, it's just about comfort. Ditto OPs, your body and baby will tell you if you need to move.

[kershnic]

When I was hospitalized last week they had me on my back the whole night - thanks to the monitor. I don't think it really matters.