Can you lay on your back while pregnant

That said, research has shown that women who chronically hit the sack for fewer than six hours a night may have longer labors and be more likely to need C-sections. Untreated sleep apnea, where breathing is disrupted frequently throughout the night leading to poor sleep and night waking, has been linked to pregnancy complications including preeclampsia , gestational hypertension and low birth weight. If you think you may suffer from this condition, be sure to talk to your doctor.

The best way to judge is not by how many hours you clock in lying in bed but by how you feel. If you think lack of sleep is becoming an issue, talk to your healthcare practitioner.

He or she can help you find the root of your problem and solutions to get the rest you need. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy. The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.

This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. Registry Builder New. Sleeping Positions During Pregnancy. This is a result of your growing abdomen resting on your intestines and major blood vessels the aorta and vena cava. You can also develop sleep apnea as you put on weight. Sleeping on your stomach: When you are farther along in your pregnancy, your breasts become more tender and your abdomen continues to grow, both making sleeping on your tummy uncomfortable.

Using a donut-shaped pillow with a hole in the middle may help you sleep comfortably on your stomach. During pregnancy, you may find yourself wrestling in bed trying to get comfortable before falling asleep.

When you are pregnant your body goes through a variety of changes causing your regular sleeping positions to no longer work for you. Curtis, Glade B. Week Best Sleeping Positions During Pregnancy. If you are experiencing heartburn during the night, you may want to try propping your upper body with pillows. In late pregnancy, you may experience shortness of breath. As a result, not all experts agree with the advice to avoid sleeping on the back.

A University of Utah interview with three high risk pregnancy specialists emphasizes that one study linking back sleeping to stillbirth did not control for other factors. The specialists also note that even in women who sleep on their backs, the risk of stillbirth remains low.

A woman who is concerned that she frequently awakens on her back can try using pillows to support her body and help her remain on her side.

Different strategies can help a pregnant woman sleep better. Women finding it difficult to sleep can try:. Learn other tips on how to improve sleep quality here. Women who do not get quality sleep during pregnancy may experience physical and emotional fatigue. This fatigue can make it difficult to work, go to school, or accomplish daily tasks. Some research suggests that a lack of sleep can also lead to mood disorders , such as depression , and potentially result in negative pregnancy outcomes, such as growth restriction of the fetus and preeclampsia.

It can also cause secondary problems, such as fatigue-related accidents. If a woman is experiencing ongoing difficulties with sleep during pregnancy, she should speak to a doctor about how to improve her sleep. Sleep can prove challenging at every stage of pregnancy.

While there are no perfect solutions, various strategies can help with pregnancy-related sleep difficulties. A doctor can offer advice if a pregnant woman is struggling to get enough sleep or is sleeping in excess. Learn more. Fetal macrosomia is a condition wherein a baby is born at a heavier birth weight than usual.

Learn more about fetal macrosomia here. A study links air pollution to almost 6 million premature births each year. Another tip: If you're waking up with aches , a firmer mattress might be the answer; a memory foam mattress supports your torso and limbs, and could make it easier to sleep in a position that is new to you.

Should you wake up on your back in the middle of the night, don't freak out. Your body would get dizzy and nauseous before your baby was in any real danger of not getting enough oxygen.

By the time your uterus is heavy enough to compress the vein, you'll be so uncomfortable lying on your back that your body will flip over, even if you're asleep. According to a study , researchers from the University of Auckland found that women who sleep on their backs during their third trimesters may also be putting undue stress on their fetuses—which might, in turn, increase stillbirth risk. A study that involved pregnant women also suggested that sleeping in the supine position might increase risk of late stillbirth—though other pregnancy complications may have affected these results.

Sean Daneshmand, M. By Dr.