Pregnancy Forum - Laying On Your Back....

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Q: Laying On Your Back....

asked by: Eyes Wide Shut on February 4th, 2006

Especially eHealthy

So I hear that laying on your back is not good for you or your baby. Has anyone else heard of this?

Supposedly the baby rests on a main artery parallel to your spine. When it does this it deprives blood from flowing like it should. Lack of blood means lack of oxygen...Lack of oxygen to the baby could result in severe damage of the brain.

One problem...I just graduated an esthiology program about a month ago and haven't done anything but lay in my bed. Due to the hurricane I had to restart school when I was 4 1/2 months. I had a pinched ciatic nerve due to the baby being low and had to endure going up and down flights of stairs all day long..I also had to deal with about 5/6 patients a day. Talk about painful. There was nothing I could do about it but painful knee to chest stretches and apply moist heat. No meds. Would help.

Anyways...I lay on my back a lot when i'm awake. I like to do it because the baby starts dancing!! Lol..That's what I call it.. After a while though it starts to pinch my nerve again...So I penis my hips to the side. Although I turn my hips I don't know how long I had actually been laying on my back.. I get up and make trips to and from the bathroom and kitchen throughout the day...

Do yall think that my laying on my back has done any damage by now?? Lol...I'm not on bedrest..I'm just "enjoying" my pregnancy now. Before I was in total agony!!

Any suggestiong would be helpful!!!
Sarah

Replies(16)

~*~Jillian~*~

replied on February 4th, 2006

Extremely eHealthy

Lol thats really weird that you asked that.. A girl in one of my classes (while I was pregnant)..Always use to tell me all these myths and things ...One day she brought up to me that we shouldnt lay on our backs ..Because it might effect the baby or might even kill it ..So I freaked out considering that while I was pregnant the only way that I could possibly sleep good was on my back..So I called my doctor asap and asked her about it ...She told me it was prefectly normal and nothing bad could happen if you layed on your back..She then laughed and asked why do you think I make you lay on your back to do all your check up's and u/s's and things like that ..If it were bad for you ..We would make you lay a different way..And I was so relieved...One thing I learned while being pregnant ...Dont listen to what everyone says ...Just stick with what your doc says..They know best..!!

Eyes Wide Shut

replied on February 4th, 2006

Especially eHealthy

I normally don't listen to myths...But I heard this on "babies:special delivery" today..Lol..

I read it before and kinda threw it out of my mind..But when I heard it today I had to post something about it..It triggered what I had read..

It won't affect it for like 20 minutes..I'm talking about like 4 hours...Say for instance you fall asleep on your back and are in that position for long periods of time.

The girl on the show..Her baby's heart rate decreaded and nothing was wrong..So the Dr. Suggested that she lay on either side and to avoid laying on her back..She had apparently been laying for about 3 hours..

I'm sure that my ancestors laid on their backs for long times and nothing happened...I guess it's just that mean ole paranoia setting in again!!! I swear I need to stop!! Lol

thanks for your response!!! It really means a lot to me!!

Sarah

lsipes

replied on February 4th, 2006

Experienced User

Laying on your back during late stages of pregnancy *does* affect things.

I was not allowed to lay on my back for extended amounts of time after my 5th month. I had to go into the doctor 3 times a week for non-stress tests (where they monitor the baby's movement, my contractions, and the baby's heart-rate) and was required to lay on my side because laying on your back affects the heartrate and such.
It isn't a good idea for anyone but I had a problem pregnancy so it was especially important for me to lay on my side.

Jolie_3110

replied on February 4th, 2006

Extremely eHealthy

When I was in labour with my 2nd child his heart rate dropped, twice my doctor and midwife told me to lay on my side as it might help. Always wondered why they said this (i was in too much pain at the time to bother questioning!) but now I know.

Thanks. :)

shuett

replied on February 4th, 2006

Experienced User

I slept on my back with all my pregnancies - up until it was no longer comfortable for me (around 25 weeks or so). Never had any problems.

Sandy

mia7

replied on February 5th, 2006

Experienced User

Hi sarah

i mentioned something about that on another post.

This is what I have in my book "what to expect when you're expecting"

"the back position, though more comfortable, rests the entire weight of your pregnant uterus on your back, your intestines, and the inferior vena cava (the vein responsible for returning blood from the lower body to the heart). This can aggravate backaches and hemorrhoids, inhibit digestive function, interfere with breathing and circulation, and possibly cause hypotension, or low blood pressure.

This doesn't mean you have to sleep standing up. Curling up or stretching out on your side-preferably the left side- with one leg crossed over the other and with a pillow between them, is best for both you and your fetus. It not only allows maximum flow of blood and nutrients to the placenta but also enhances efficient kidney function, which means better elimination of waste products and fluids and less edema (swelling) of ankles, feet, and hands."

hope it helped and answered some questions. Everyone has their own opinion though.

~rubmybuddahbelly~

replied on February 5th, 2006

Active User, very eHealthy

I read in my pregnancy book that when you lay on your back the preasure from your belly can put preasure on a vein or something... I dont know anything for sure... I lay on my back but not to much

~*~Jillian~*~

replied on February 5th, 2006

Extremely eHealthy

Well I layed on my back the whole time...Even sleep thorughout the night on mine...And my doctor told me it was fine..And my son is perfectly normal....But different people believe different things ..So just whatever you girls think is the best for you and baby go ahead..Lol im not telling anyone to lay on their back or not to :wink:

Eyes Wide Shut

replied on February 5th, 2006

Especially eHealthy

Yea I hear ya jillian...I'm sure my mom and her mom laid on their backs and everything was fine..

That's like the deli meat situation...There's a specific infection that you can get from unpastuerized meats.Some meats carry a bacteria so they need to be cooked well before eating. Listosis or something of that nature...I don't eat cold cuts anyway so i'm good...And i'm sure my mom ate plenty of ham sandwiches!! Lol...It's all this new technology that freaks us out!! I'm glad they're discovering that....But it's kind of scary!!

Sarah

tigresacanela24

replied on February 6th, 2006

Especially eHealthy

I've heard that it's bad for the same reason that mia7 posted. I've never heard any other reason. I do it sometimes because for whatever reason it makes the baby move a lot and I like to feel him. I don't do it for long because with my dizzy spells i'm paranoid that i'll pass out or something.

QueenBee2_3

replied on February 6th, 2006

Experienced User

It's true that you shouldn't lay on your back for an extended period of time once you're about 4-5 months pregnant. There's a main artery in your back that the baby rests on and the weight of the baby and other organs puts pressure on that artery. That decreases blood flow which increases your blood pressure and also decreases oxygen to the baby. If you fall asleep on your back, it's very possible and even likely that you'll wake up dizzy and with your lower half of your body "asleep."

it's best to sleep on your left and right sides. If you need to lower your blood pressure, your left is the single best position to lay in.

Sunflower_pie81

replied on February 6th, 2006

Extremely eHealthy

I was told by the paramedics when I was taken to the er, when they arrived that I wasn't to lay on my back while preggers, however the pain I was in was so bad that only laying on my back helped releave the pain. Now I just make sure I am proped up a little bit so that I dont' have all the preassure on my back and spine. But then again laying on my back right now isn't that compfortable to me right now.

Genipher

Xoxo51

replied on June 29th, 2009

New User

I don't think it's a myth at all

I personally feel short of breath when I lie on my back, that's just me tho. (I'm 30 wks)

onewife

replied on August 3rd, 2009

New User

to back or not to back?

i was hopitalized in my 26week, and i was constantly on my back, my doctors,nurses,and my specialist did not say anything bad about it, that was the only way they could monitor my baby because they are so small at they gestational age. Hope this helps.

MissJessi

replied on August 3rd, 2009

New User

be careful! don't lay on your back too much... i was always laying on my back when i was pregnant and when i was 5 months pregnant i began getting sciatica... i had my baby a year ago and i still have terrible pain. sometimes it hurts to pick her up. you don't want to end up like this! its very difficult to do simple everyday things after a certain point.

raesmom

replied on September 10th, 2009

New User

laying on your back

i am 34 weeks pregnant n never had a problem laying on my back until yesterday @ my ultrasound. As soon as i laid down i felt shortness of breath but just thought it was the baby being pushed on my lungs a few min. later i felt like i was going to get sick n started getting cold sweats n ringing in my ears n almost passed out! the tech. sat me up n got some juice n a cold washcloth 4 my head. She said it happend alot n it was from lying on my back. I have no complications(sugar,blood pressure e.c.t) but i will never lay on my back again that was the worst feeling ever!

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