With the onset of pregnancy, the expectant mother begins to lead a completely different life, with some restrictions. Sometimes they are very significant and relate primarily to all bad habits - from now on they should not be until the woman gives birth and finishes breastfeeding the baby. But the restrictions also cover other areas of the expectant mother's life - they relate to nutrition, certain sports, and even the position of her body in a dream.

And if the fact that as the stomach grows, it is forbidden to sleep on it is obvious, then many questions arise regarding other postures in sleep. For example, is it possible to sleep on your back during pregnancy, how can it be dangerous for a pregnant woman and her unborn baby?

Should you sleep on your back during pregnancy?

With the onset of pregnancy, many expectant mothers report increased fatigue, lethargy, and drowsiness. This is the reaction of the body to a new position for it. It is best to listen to your feelings and relax whenever possible.

In general, expectant mothers have no questions about whether. Obviously, as it grows, it becomes dangerous, and simply inconvenient. However, in the early stages, the position of the expectant mother during sleep does not matter!

When not to sleep on your back during pregnancy

The first trimester is the period when you can sleep on your back during pregnancy without fear of any consequences. The fact is that the embryo is still too small, it is reliably protected by the bones of the small pelvis, so there is no chance that the expectant mother will harm him with the wrong posture during sleep.

Nevertheless, already now we must gradually accustom ourselves to the fact that soon there will be only 2 poses that are acceptable during pregnancy - on the left and right sides. Starting from the second trimester, the expectant mother should be able to control herself in a dream, since lying both on her stomach and on her back can cause serious harm to her health and the health of the unborn baby.

Why is it dangerous to sleep on your back during pregnancy?

From about the 12th week of pregnancy, the size of the uterus already reaches such a size that the position of the body of the expectant mother directly begins to affect the condition of the baby in her stomach. Already now she herself is becoming uncomfortable, and psychologically scary to lie on her stomach. Experts say that such a situation can provoke uterine hypertonicity.

The favorite position on the back is also not only undesirable - it is extremely dangerous. In this position, there are significant changes in the work of the internal organs of a pregnant woman, the cause of which is an increase in the pressure of the growing uterus.

1. Pressure on the intestines provokes the development of constipation and accumulation of gases, which leads to bloating and severe pain. Such disorders are quite common in pregnant women, so, of course, it is not worth provoking their development while lying on your back.
2. The load on the spine and lumbar leads to back pain. Possible disruption of the kidneys, which, in turn, is the cause of edema. Both back pain and swelling are also constant companions of pregnancy, and regular sleeping on your back can aggravate the situation.
3. The load on the inferior vena cava is the main reason why pregnant women are contraindicated to sleep on their backs. The inferior vena cava is a large blood vessel that helps drain blood from the lower body to the heart. If its functioning is disturbed, a pregnant woman experiences symptoms:

• acute lack of oxygen;
• respiratory failure;
• dizziness;
• cold sweat;
• increased heart rate.

In other words, with difficult outflow of blood through the lower vena cava, the expectant mother experiences all the signs of fainting, moreover, while lying down. Such symptoms indicate a failure in the work of several systems at once - cardiovascular, endocrine and respiratory.

But that is not all. The condition of the fetus in the womb also deteriorates significantly. Due to impaired blood flow, it receives an insufficient amount of oxygen and essential nutrients necessary for normal development. Regular sleep of the expectant mother on her back can lead to the development of intrauterine fetal hypoxia, which, in turn, can lead to:

• congenital pathologies of the formation of internal organs;
• serious lesions of the central nervous system - the central nervous system.

After birth, a newborn may experience:

• growth retardation;
• developmental delay;
• sleep disorders.

All of the above consequences can be avoided if the expectant mother sleeps on her side. The left side is preferable, but in the case of a transverse presentation, doctors recommend sleeping on the side in which the baby's head is located. So he will have a better chance of getting into the correct position in the tummy so that the birth goes as it should.

What to do if a woman is used to sleeping on her back

Even in ordinary life, sleep is very important for many internal processes, therefore, ideally, a person should sleep about 8 hours a day. A pregnant woman should know this and doubly try to follow this simple yet complex rule.

But what if there are only restrictions around? How to relax expectant mother?

1. Now every maternity store sells special pillows for expectant mothers. To some, the price tag will seem overpriced, but it's worth it. Such a pillow will provide mom with a comfortable sleep on any side, relieve the load from the lower back in a sitting position, and become an invaluable assistant in feeding a newborn baby. If you can't get a pillow, you can roll up a blanket and use it in a similar way.
2. Before going to bed, it is better to ventilate the room well, and if the weather is good outside and the expectant mother is not afraid of drafts, then sleeping with an open window would be an excellent solution.
3. Evening walks in the fresh air are also good. Better in a pleasant company, pregnant women should not walk long distances alone. An alternative is a warm pool. He will remove the load from the tired back, let the woman feel light again, relax and prepare for sleep.
4. Do not eat at night, especially heavy food. Discomfort and heaviness in the abdomen will greatly complicate the night's sleep.
5. In addition, 3 hours before bedtime, you should limit the intake of any liquid, as in this case it can provoke the appearance of edema.
6. For the best well-being, the expectant mother should try to sleep about 8 hours a day, go to bed and get up at the same time.

In general, if a pregnant woman follows the above recommendations, then she will have a comfortable sleep, and the lack of a choice of sleeping position will not seem stressful to her.

Of course, it is very difficult for many to control themselves in a dream. Due to the fact that you can only sleep on your side, a logical question arises - what will happen if you unconsciously take a position that is obviously dangerous to health?

In fact, over time, a pregnant woman becomes more responsive in her sleep. In principle, it becomes uncomfortable for her to lie down on her stomach as it grows, therefore it is simply impossible to take such a position unconsciously. As for sleeping on your back, nothing terrible will happen from a short-term position of the body in such a position. And in case of discomfort, the pregnant woman will wake up and quickly take the correct position. In extreme cases, the baby will not be slow to inform her that he is ill with a targeted kick in the tummy.

Summary: why you should not sleep on your back during pregnancy

Pregnancy, although not a disease, is still a period of various restrictions. This does not mean that we should now be afraid to take an extra step, but a reasonable measure is necessary in everything.

Many people say that during pregnancy it is convenient for them to sleep on their backs, there is no discomfort. Nevertheless, even in the absence of signs of deterioration in well-being, it should be remembered that the crumbs in the stomach can still be uncomfortable and even bad. If he suddenly began to kick hard and sharply, then this may be a signal that his mother has taken an uncomfortable position and he does not have enough oxygen. In this case, the woman should still change her favorite position and open the window. A breath of fresh air will quickly calm the baby, and the comfortable position of the mother on her side will not allow her to feel such discomfort in the future.

Now you know why you shouldn't sleep on your back during pregnancy. In any case, these are temporary inconveniences, and the modern industry allows pregnant women to sit with maximum comfort during sleep. 9 months will pass very quickly, and very soon the newly-made mother will gladly lie down on her stomach and on her back.

Video: during pregnancy, you can not sleep on your back