When to stop sleeping on back pregnancy ?
Can you sleep on your back when pregnant?
In what comfortable position, and without risks for the baby, can you sleep when you are pregnant? It is especially during the last trimester of pregnancy that this question is the most worrying for future mothers. Especially since the posture lying on the back is not recommended for everyone during pregnancy.
With a growing belly and a baby who can be particularly active and kick in the middle of the night, it can be difficult to find the right position to sleep comfortably when you're pregnant . So is it better to sleep on your right side, your left side, or to sleep on your back?
Is it dangerous to sleep on your back when pregnant?
From the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy, around the 27th week of pregnancy, and sometimes as early as the 24th week, it may be inadvisable to sleep on your back when you are pregnant. And this, until delivery .
A risk of compression of the cavernous vein
Why is it not advisable to sleep on your back when you are pregnant ? Under the pressure exerted by the weight of the uterus , whose volume continues to increase, venous return is mistreated. The vena cava, which carries blood from the lower body to the heart, is compressed. Even more so when you are lying on your back and the baby weighs heavily on it... Result: blood flow decreases, which can cause a drop in blood pressure , therefore dizziness in the mother-to-be, or even vagal discomfort in some. It is recommended to avoid sleeping on your back during the last months of pregnancy if you suffer from severe high blood pressure , for example. In addition, sleeping on your back when you are pregnant can accentuate sleep apnea problems , which manifests itself by breathing pauses during the night and can also cause complications.
When to stop sleeping on your back when pregnant?
When you suffer from problems related to venous return, it is therefore preferable to adopt good habits for your sleeping position from the beginning of pregnancy , or as soon as your belly begins to grow! And this, to prevent compression of the vena cava, located on the right side. Get used to sleeping on your left side as early as possible, during these nine months, preferably, in order to accommodate this new position and for it to seem obvious to you.
Right or left: which side should you sleep on when you’re pregnant?
Because the vena cava is located on the right side of the spine, it is best to sleep on the left side to facilitate placental circulation .
The best position to sleep while pregnant
By sleeping on your left side, you are not taking any risks for your health and that of your baby. And it is a question of habit! However, do not panic if you wake up in the middle of the night on your right side or your back. Just remember to reposition yourself on the right side , especially during the last trimester of pregnancy.
Sleep well with a nursing pillow
To avoid changing positions during the night, and to improve your comfort, you can use a nursing pillow . Once you are comfortably installed in your bed on your left side, you slide this banana-shaped or semi-circular pillow between your legs, with your upper leg placed above this comfortable support to which, as you will see, you readily get used! In fact, many young mothers continue to use it as an essential accessory for their restful nights, long after the baby arrives .
Is it recommended to sleep on the right side when pregnant?
While sleeping on your right side poses less risk than sleeping on your back for vena cava syndrome, it is still preferable to sleep on your left side during the last trimester of pregnancy. Although this position may not always be natural in the early stages, you will see that after a few nights in a row, you will naturally adopt it as you go to sleep!
Can you sleep on your stomach during the first trimester of pregnancy?
During the first trimester of pregnancy, up until around the third month , there is no contraindication to sleeping on your stomach , both in terms of your comfort and the risks for the baby. Enjoy!
Sleeping on your stomach when you are 2 months, 3 months pregnant…
So, to recap: up to 3 months of pregnancy , you can sleep on your stomach if you want! But, as your belly starts to round out, you will see that your sensations and positions will start to change. In general, as soon as your pregnancy starts to be visible, sleeping on your stomach becomes uncomfortable, then very quickly impossible. It is then quite naturally that you will find your bearings to have a restful sleep by sleeping comfortably on your side (left, preferably).
How to sleep well when you are pregnant?
It is during the first and last trimesters of pregnancy that we are most likely to be confronted with sleep disorders . These are among the pregnancy ailments that we could happily do without! The causes, during the first trimester: hormonal upheaval, stress and excitement related to the start of a first pregnancy and, at the end of pregnancy: the weight of the belly, discomfort in the lying position, the baby's nocturnal movements, frequent urges to urinate, cramps or persistent back pain related to the baby's weight... Insomnia that is not without consequences on the baby's development
Pregnant women: promoting good sleep during pregnancy
While there is no miracle recipe for getting ultra-restorative sleep during the final stretch of pregnancy, you can still make sure to put in place some special sleep rituals before going to bed:
- Before bedtime, limit your fluid intake (herbal teas, water , soups, etc.). Otherwise, you're sure to wake up to go pee!
- Set regular bedtimes and wake-up times ,
- Make sure your bedding is comfortable and equip yourself with a nursing pillow ,
- Do a daily physical activity, recommended by your midwife or doctor, to exercise and help you fall asleep ,
- If you have trouble falling asleep, try a few meditation , sophrology or prenatal yoga sessions , given by your midwife or another professional in alternative medicine for pregnant women.
