Not lying on your back after 16 weeks

L

Liquorice

Registered User
How serious/important is this rule that I have been reading about in my pregnancy books, that you shouldn't lie on or exercise on your back after week 16? I will be 16 weeks later this week and I'm not even showing. Doesn't it apply more when the baby is bigger or doesn't it matter what size the baby is? Seems strange to me that it is required so early...
 
yes, i was just discussing this with OB/GYN recently and it really applies to bigger babies as the danger is that the baby will press on your blood vessels. the danger is also actually to YOU and not the baby.
 
Baby puts pressure on your major blood vessel, the inferior vena cava so your bloodflow gets hindered. It's better for you so the blood flow continues properly. My doctor recommended not to lie on my back after 20 weeks.
 
Some doctors in some places don't even recommend that. I don't think it's an issue until later in your pregnancy when the baby is much bigger. And I think that your own COMFORT will tell you when the baby is too big for that. I probably would start trying to not sleep on your back (because you might want to get out of that habit now) - but as for exercising for short periods of time, I think it's ok until much later in your pregnancy... I still lay on my back for short periods of time (like 15 min here and there) and I'm 35 weeks...
 
I found myself actually getting short of breath lying on my back for a while, think it was around the 16 week mark too. So yes, your body will tell you.
 
Same here actually, I would feel faint and a bit nauseous if I lied on my back too long. Listen to your body!
 
My doctor also said to just listen to your body. He said that you would feel faint and know to turn over or sit up.
 
there's really no way you can sleep in any one position for that long of a period when you are pregnant. Btw getting up for the bathroom and just being uncomfortable, I wouldn't worry about it. I think I must change position every 15 minutes.
 
The best position I found is on the side rolled in my maternity/BF cushion (the big soft ones), it releases some pressure from the back as you can keep it straight.
Good luck !
 
Thanks. I feel fine sleeping on my back at the moment so will not worry about it. Will wait until I get a bit bigger....and enjoy the fact that sleep is still comfortable and easy for me, for the time being anyway!
 
Just wondering, excuse me for how this sounds, but is your body naturally big? Is that why you are not showing? If so, I might pay a bit attention to starting not to sleep on your back as your baby still might be big enough to be putting some pressure on your veins. I never felt faint or anything til I was really huge but I stopped long before that.
 
Hi Shenzhennifer, no I'm not very big, though a little fatter right now! From what I have read and other people's posts I thought many people didn't really show until later, especially with a first pregnancy. I am 15.5 weeks. Do you think this is strange?
 
Well, if you`re not big already, and the docs say everything is ok with the baby size-wise, I would just count your blessings. With my son I showed at like 6-8 weeks(I was thin then), and now I`m not even 7 weeks and I`m already showing a bit(less thin but not fat). It`s not nice. My friend didn`t start showing till she was about 5 months nearly.
I say as long as the Dr is happy with the growth of your baby, you don`t need to worry. And hey, look at the bright side, you can really go on an eating binge if you want!
 
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