While some claim that sleeping on your stomach while pregnant is safe, others say it can lead to sleep apnea, premature delivery, and/or jaundice.
Sleep apnea occurs when the baby’s oxygen level drops while the baby is sleeping. This reduces the baby’s blood flow and may cause sudden death or brain damage to the baby.
Premature babies are also at risk for a number of health conditions including vitamin and supplement deficiency and developmental problems. A position that researchers suggest for sleeping is on your side with your back supported by a mattress or box spring.
ffieldman, one woman interviewed for this Can a Woman Sleep on Her Stomach While Pregnant article, says that she sleeps comfortably in her husband’s arms with one hand under his chest and the other under his thigh. She says it feels like you are protecting yourself with each position.
This article will discuss whether it is safe to sleep on your stomach or back while pregnant.
Contents:
Your baby is vulnerable
There are many reasons to sleep in your backpagian while you were pregnant. You may be afraid to put your baby in bed with you because of the position that you were in during pregnancy. You may feel comfortable sleeping on your side with your baby facing you at times, or you may just feel more secure when you do.
Your doctor will advise you on how much sleep you need while you are caring for your baby. Most babies stay warm and comforted well if they are in a crib or a pack-and-play, with no special blankets needed.
There are some cases where less sleep is needed. For example, if it is daytime hours and the baby needs activity, then more sleep is needed. On the other hand, if it was nighttime and crying was preventing you from sleeping, then fewer hours of sleep would help.
You are vulnerable
You are gestating a baby in your belly, and that means you’re vulnerable to infections, inflammation, and injury.
It also means you can sleep wherever you want to! Most pregnant women find a firm surface to lie on. Some opt to use their hands or pillows.
But no matter where the pregnant woman sleeps, she should stay away from bedding while she is pregnant. This includes blankets, sheets, and pillowcases.
Bedding poses a risk of entero-éléments like violence and suicide during pregnancy. It is also hard for some people to discard while they are trying to get pregnant again.
Since it is possible to sleep on the stomach or on a supported side with no problem, these positions may be helpful for some during pregnancy when backpain is a threat.
Heartburn and indigestion
While pregnant, you may find that your waistline is growing even faster than your baby. You may also experience heartburn and/or abdominal pain that increases when you sleep on your side or on your stomach.
This is not a cause for worry as it is usually temporary. Most pregnant women get their heartburn before the first trimester and during the second, so it will pass by then.
However, if this problem persists, you may want to contact your doctor to discuss possible causes such as an underlying condition or a change in lifestyle practices to reduce inflammation. Heartburn can also occur in other early pregnancies such as around week six or seven of pregnancy when it is due from the opposite sex due to an existing male fetus.
How much sleep you need can also be assessed via a sleep study so that a physician can determine whether it is safe for you to sleep on your side or on your stomach.
Possible reflux disease
There are a few situations where sleeping on your stomach or on a supported sleep surface is not recommended during pregnancy.
When your baby is still sleeping in the womb, it can be hard to tell if something is wrong. Since babies sleep for about 6 to 7 hours at a time, this can be difficult to notice at times.
If the baby is still sleeping on the same side as you, it can become touchy and turn over more often, possibly causing stomach pain or reflux disease. If this happens, try moving the bed up an inch or two to make more room and get better sleep.
If your husband does not want you to sleep on your back due to possible back pain, then you may have a choice to make whether or not you want to lie on your stomach or on a supported mattress while pregnant.
Possible snoring
There may be a small chance that a woman can sleep on her stomach while she’s pregnant. This is possible if she keeps her mattress diagonally supported by her hands. This trick prevents possible back pain and sleeping on your side or knees to obtain enough space.
This is possibly more difficult to do if you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, but that’s worth it in the end. Getting some rest will improve your mood and health as you continue with your pregnancy. Plus, this may help with sleep during pregnancy when you can get some support from your mattress.
Can a woman sleep on her back during pregnancy? Definitely not without painkillers, unless she’s very comfortable with that too. Sitting up straight with no painkillers is also important when trying this trick.
Increased risk of sleep apnea
There is a higher risk of sleep apnea during pregnancy. As the baby Sleeps, so does the mother. Around the clock she is breathing through her mouth and nose. This increased breathing can create an airway that is not fully developed, or undeveloped for a short time period.
This can lead to increased risks of sleep apnea and other health issues for the mother and baby. Although it is rare for a woman to have a daytime nap during pregnancy, most women do take advantage of another sleep opportunity while pregnant.
One way to prevent sleep apnea in your newborn is to get your bedtime as soon as possible after birth. You also should try keeping your child awake as long as you were before they woke up to obtain at least some recovery from their sleep.
Increases pressure on your uterus
You may think that sleeping on your stomach or on your back with a pillow under your neck is limited to women who are short and thin with small breasts.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for pregnant women. You can sleep on your side or on a pillow as long as you have enough space to do so.
Some people recommend rolling over on your side every few hours to help ease sleep deprivation and reduce pain during the night. If you can, do this!
If you cannot sleep on your side or must sleep on your back with a pillow, then choosing one of the following options may help.
Increases discomfort from your growing belly
Most pregnant women experience some discomfort from their growing belly. This includes women who are on their back, on their side, or in a mild asleep position.
Most men find it uncomfortable to sleep on their stomach while pregnant. Many report having trouble breathing and sleeping easier in this position.
You may be more likely to wake up with headache and/or syncope(where your heart stops) during the early part of your pregnancy when you’re lying flat on your stomach.
This is likely due to the foot rest you can use to reduce the odds of sleep Apnea which may cause you refocus attention on your breathing and waking up early. You also have a higher chance of keeping a natural wake up rhythm which helps with pain control and recovery.