Why pregnant women need to sleep. Why you shouldn't sleep on your back during pregnancy. Choosing the right place to sleep and bedding

For the birth of a healthy baby expectant mother it is necessary not only to eat right, to lead healthy image life, but also get enough sleep. According to statistics, 90% of pregnant women have sleep problems, mainly due to an unusual posture during sleep. Women are worried about whether pregnant women can sleep on their backs.

How to sleep for a pregnant woman

Expectant mothers often complain of constant sleepiness, especially in the last months of pregnancy. does not allow you to rest normally in an unusual position, and in your head there are only thoughts about the upcoming birth. At night, a woman is tormented by insomnia, and during the day she feels tired and tends to sleep. Many pregnant women are concerned about whether it is possible for pregnant women to sleep on their back (6 months). Help simple methods to improve sleep - a walk, aromatherapy, or a cup of mint tea.

What position to choose for sleeping for a pregnant woman

A mother-to-be in the first trimester can sleep in any comfortable position without fear for the health of the child. But a woman in a position, having learned about her pregnancy, should gradually get used to other postures during sleep, which are recommended for subsequent periods.

When the belly begins to round and becomes noticeable, sleeping on the belly is not only impossible, but it is also not recommended by doctors.

Is it possible for pregnant women to sleep on their back

All women face a problem when they have to change all their habits. One of these is rest and sleep on your back. Many people understand perfectly well, but is it possible for pregnant women to sleep on their backs? No doctor will say that it is worth changing this position for the entire 9 months. The first trimester, the expectant mother can sleep as she loves, but she must gradually change her body position in order to get used to it faster. After three months, the baby begins to grow faster and the belly increases accordingly. The uterus increases in both weight and volume, loading internal organs... The kidneys, intestines and liver are most affected.

The uterus presses on one of the largest veins in the body - the vena cava, through which blood moves from the heart to the lower extremities. This affects the health of not only the mother, but also her unborn child. In this condition, he often feels short of breath, palpitations, and sometimes faints. And the nutrients cease to flow to the child, which leads to his oxygen starvation... If the vein is squeezed for a long time, then there may be problems with bearing the fetus and childbirth. Therefore, the question of whether it is possible for pregnant women to sleep on their backs in the 3rd trimester disappears by itself.

Can pregnant women sleep on their stomach

You can sleep on your stomach for up to 3 months, while the uterus with the fetus does not go beyond the pelvic floor. Until this time, a woman is allowed to sleep in her favorite position, but this is not always possible due to the high sensitivity of her breasts. Starting with, you should forget about resting on your stomach for the benefit of the child.

In order for the rest to be complete, a pregnant woman should adhere to several rules. An unusual posture at first will affect the quality of sleep, you need to do so that the body is completely resting at night.

Proper nutrition plays a huge role during pregnancy, there is no place for overeating. It is recommended to eat often, but in small portions. It is better to limit trips to the kitchen three hours before bedtime, this also applies mineral water and caffeinated drinks. But a glass of warm milk with honey will calm the expectant mother and have a beneficial effect on the night's rest.

Do not neglect physical exercises for pregnant women, which must be performed during the day, so as not to burden the body before bedtime.

Before going to bed, it is better to give up watching TV and reading books. Calm music is great to help you relax and fall asleep.

Every mom-to-be should have a daily routine and stick to it by going to bed and waking up at the same time. In order not to suffer from insomnia, you should forget about daytime sleep.

A short walk before bed and a ventilated room will help you sleep more deeply and deeply.

You only need to take a warm shower, excluding hot water.

Clothes of a pregnant woman should be pleasant to the touch, made of natural material that does not hinder movement.

It is strictly forbidden to take sleeping pills that negatively affect the health of the child. On the question of whether it is possible for pregnant women to sleep on their backs or not, only the attending physician can answer in more detail.

What position should a pregnant woman take for a restful sleep? Obstetricians are encouraged to get used to the position on the side. This article explains why pregnant women should not sleep on their backs.

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Sleep features of pregnant women

In the first trimester, a pregnant woman does not care how to spend a night's rest. She can fall asleep in your favorite position.

However, doctors advise changing your habits and getting used to sleeping on your side. While the abdomen is small, the embryo is protected from external influences by the amniotic membrane, and the uterus does not significantly squeeze the organs and blood vessels.

Therefore, there is no need to change the usual posture during this period of gestation of the embryo.

A woman preparing to become a mother can still lie on her back or on her side without consequences. The prone position is also allowed, but up to 80–85 days.

The uterus is enlarged, this position leads to its squeezing. In the first third of gestation, the breasts begin to swell, which is accompanied by soreness of the nipples, so sleep problems appear on the growing belly, the pregnant woman is shifted to her back.

However, after a three-month period, the uterus grows rapidly. When a pregnant woman is with her belly up for a long time, the uterus presses on the spinal cord, begins to squeeze large vessels. Therefore, when a pregnant woman lies for a long time, it is necessary to change position more often. Prolonged supine position causes compression of blood vessels and congestion leading to disease.

When should a woman rebuild her nightlife? Obstetricians recommend starting with the initial trimester, although the need for this arises in the second. There is a squeezing of the vessels supplying blood to the heart. The woman may feel dizzy and even faint.

How to sleep on later dates? In the last third, sleeping on your back during pregnancy causes squeezing the portal vein massive uterus. The expectant mother suffocates in a dream, the embryo experiences the same sensations. The situation is corrected by turning on the side.

How to sleep more comfortably

During gestation, the nuances that the woman did not take into account before become decisive. The state of health depends on the duration of sleep and position. A comfortable position should be considered when it is comfortable for the pregnant woman and the embryo. If he does not have enough blood supply, then the mother will become ill. Short-term hypoxia sets in, which is corrected by a change in body position. Doctors from the twenty-eighth week forbid pregnant women to lie on their backs.

While the abdomen is small, the uterus is protected from external influences by the bone of the pelvis. Can you lie on your back during pregnancy during the initial weeks?

Of course it is allowed. While the belly is small the uterus is protected from external influences the bone of the small pelvis.

With an increase in the size of the abdomen, a woman will not be able to lie on it, so she will have to choose a lateral or dorsal position.

Sleeping on your back during pregnancy becomes uncomfortable - low back pain appears, increases blood pressure... Fatigue falls on the woman as a result of chronic lack of sleep.

If signs of discomfort appear, the posture must be changed. Why shouldn't pregnant women sleep on their backs? Because the uncomfortable position will force her to wake up and change her position.

Can you lie on your back during pregnancy? Obstetricians recommend that expectant mothers should not stay in this position for a long time during daytime rest and night sleep. The pregnant woman will be awakened or forced to involuntarily change position by discomfort or low back pain. The woman tosses and turns and looks for a comfortable position on her side.

Which side should you lie on? Most gynecologists consider the left side to be safe and comfortable... For convenience, it is recommended to put one leg on top of the other, placing an additional pillow between them. Why shouldn't pregnant women sleep on their backs? Because this position causes discomfort in the embryo in the womb. He moves, does not let the mother fall asleep, and she is forced to accept a position in which the unborn child will cease to bother her. In addition, the following points must be considered:

the work of the digestive tract is disrupted;
pressure decreases, which is accompanied by nausea and dizziness;
there is a threat of varicose veins on the legs, thrombophlebitis is not excluded.

Important! When the pregnant woman is resting on her back, the massive uterus compresses the blood vessels, which causes hypoxia of the embryo and maternal organs. There is a threat of fainting, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis.

What matters is the procedure for getting up and laying down. Initially considered correct smoothly raise the body from a lying position on its side, lower your legs out of bed, get up slowly. At the same time, there will be no concussion of the uterus, it will not contract, blood pressure will remain normal.

Most obstetricians believe that sleeping on the left side is considered comfortable and safe for the unborn child and his mother.

This will allow avoid the pressure of the heavy uterus on the liver and the right kidney.

Otherwise, the ureters are pinched, urine stagnation develops. A situation is created that favors the onset of pyelonephritis.

The pregnant woman bends her left arm at the elbow, and places her right hand over the abdomen. This position allows you to reduce the load on the spinal cord and organs.

It is most practical to lie on your left side., bending the one-sided arm at the elbow, and the right over the abdomen. Sleeping on your back during pregnancy will not last long. Unpleasant sensations will force a woman to change position. A few more tips:

You should not put your hands under your head - they will become numb.
The legs should be bent, placing the knees obliquely from the body.

The adopted position will make it more comfortable pillow designed for pregnant women... It is customary to put it under the knees. The sizes of the accessory purchased at the orthopedic pharmacy are selected arbitrarily. The pillow is placed under the belly or back to give the body a comfortable position. The device helps to reduce leg swelling that occurs in sleeping people.

Place a pillow or rolled towel under the raised feet. It is necessary to choose the appropriate elasticity of the bed, as well as its density.

How to sleep future mom in the last stages of pregnancy? Feather beds, beds with metal mesh... The mattress is chosen to be elastic, well supporting the body.

High pillows are replaced with orthopedic ones. It allows you to relax cervical vertebrae, what prevents the occurrence.

A thinner pillow is slipped under the stomach, thicker between the legs and large sizes... The left one needs to be extended, the right one - bend at the knee. In this case, the swollen limbs bother the pregnant woman less, the load on the lower back and pelvis is reduced.

Important! To improve the regulation of body position during night rest, special headboards for pregnant women are used. When there is no desire or opportunity to purchase all the options, they stop at the universal one. Such a pillow supports the stomach, allows the back to rest, and can be useful when feeding an unborn child.

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Frequent urge to use the toilet become faithful companions of the first trimester of pregnancy. Therefore, the question "how to sleep in early pregnancy" worries many women. In order to regain full sleep, you will have to abandon some of the old habits in favor of new ones.

Hormonal changes in the body already from the first weeks of pregnancy begin to affect sleep. A high level provokes swelling of the nasal mucosa, which leads to difficulty breathing and a lack of oxygen. As a result, in early pregnancy, a woman experiences apathy, fatigue and irritability regardless of whether she wants to sleep during the day.

The importance of healthy sleep

During the period of carrying a child, a woman may experience a variety of sleep problems:

starting insomnia (trouble falling asleep);
frequent awakenings;
anxious, restless sleep;
insomnia in the final phase of sleep (waking up too early in the morning).

Such a dream does not give full rest and recuperation, therefore, from the very morning, a woman feels tired and overwhelmed. The problem is aggravated by the fact that sleeping pills are prohibited in the first trimester of pregnancy.

A study from the University of Pittsburgh confirms the importance of a good night's sleep. Monitoring the condition of a group of women showed that insufficient sleep during early pregnancy can lead to the birth of a child with a low body weight.

Therefore, after a woman became aware of her "interesting" position, she needs to reconsider her rest regime. The duration of a night's sleep should be at least 8 hours, and it is necessary to fall asleep no later than 22:30.

How to choose a sleeping position

The quality of a night's rest is determined not only by its duration, but also by the position of the woman's body. There are many options for how you can sleep in early pregnancy. In fact, any position convenient for a woman is acceptable - you can sleep on your stomach, back or on your side.

In the first trimester of pregnancy, when the mother-to-be can still sleep in the way that is convenient for her, you need to try to get used to falling asleep in the recommended positions. Later, when big belly will limit the choice of acceptable options, falling asleep will be easier and faster. The optimal position of the body in a dream during pregnancy is on the left side.

This pose has several advantages:

the functions of the liver and kidneys are normalized;
the work of the heart is stabilized;
the fetus receives more oxygen due to the better blood supply to the pelvic organs.

If a woman is used to sleeping on her stomach and it is difficult for her to readjust, you can start using a special pregnancy pillow already in the early stages of pregnancy. Most often it is performed in the form of the letters "U" and "C". This shape allows you to sleep comfortably on your side with your upper leg at right angles to the pillow.

Many women who are accustomed to sleeping on their stomachs are concerned about whether they can continue sleeping during early pregnancy. The doctors' recommendations here are unambiguous - it is possible, but until the abdomen begins to enlarge. During this period, the uterus is still quite small and reliably protected by the pubic bones, so there is no danger to the child.

Sometimes, already in the first weeks, the expectant mother begins to worry about the soreness of the mammary glands. In this case, lying on your stomach is not recommended so as not to squeeze the sensitive breasts. Night rest on the back is allowed. You should not abuse this pose, because already from the second trimester it will be banned.

With the growth of the uterus and fetus, rest on the stomach will have to be abandoned. Despite the reliable protection of the child in the form of the muscles of the uterus, membranes and amniotic fluid, he is under pressure if the mother continues to sleep in this position. Danger to the fetus - main reason why you can't sleep on your stomach during pregnancy.

How to improve your sleep

To solve sleep problems, it is enough to adhere to simple recommendations on how to sleep properly in early pregnancy:

Limit fluid intake shortly before bed. This will avoid the urge to go to the toilet at night.
The last meal should be 2-3 hours before bedtime. For dinner, light, low-fat dishes are preferred, which will not give a feeling of heaviness in the stomach. If a woman starts to feel nauseous from hunger, you can eat a couple of crackers before going to bed or drink a glass of kefir.
The bedroom should be thoroughly ventilated, it should not be too hot, dry or cold.
When choosing pajamas or nightgown it is better to give preference to free-cut models made from natural fabrics.

Special attention needs to be paid the right regimen day. You can follow all the tips on how to sleep better in early pregnancy without achieving results. The wrong organization of the day can be to blame. If you have trouble falling asleep, it is better to give up daytime sleep in favor of walking in the fresh air. Moderate physical exercise(gymnastics,). All these measures taken together will allow the expectant mother to fully rest, get enough sleep and enjoy her position.

How long can pregnant women lie on their backs?

While the tummy is barely noticeable and the uterus is reliably protected by the bones of the small pelvis, the expectant mother is not at all worried about whether it is possible to lie on her back during pregnancy. At first, the posture during sleep does not in any way affect the well-being and development of the baby. On her stomach, on her back or on her side - a woman has the right to use the opportunity to sleep and rest in a way that is convenient for her to the fullest, since in a couple of months she will not have such a prerogative. As soon as the tummy begins to round, it will be uncomfortable and unsafe for her to sleep on her stomach. As for the back, gynecologists are allowed to rest in this position until about 28 weeks. However, doctors advise to gradually get used to and choose a comfortable position for rest in advance, so as not to overshadow last months pregnancy with chronic lack of sleep and fatigue.

Can pregnant women lie on their backs late in pregnancy?

Having reached a huge size, the belly significantly limits the freedom of movement of a pregnant woman. Of course, you can't sleep on your stomach, and the position on your back is not the most the best solution... In this position, the uterus strongly compresses the vena cava, along which blood flows from the legs to the heart. By disrupting the blood flow, the pregnant woman may feel unwell, dizziness, breathing may become rapid and intermittent. But, most importantly, with such violations, the child also suffers - he begins to experience an acute lack of oxygen.

In addition, lying on your back for a long time can cause lower back pain or increase

However, many doctors say: you can lie on your back during pregnancy, but not for long. An alternating change in body position with a favorable course of pregnancy can in no way harm the baby and mother. But, nevertheless, answering the question of how long you can lie on your back during pregnancy, gynecologists do not advise to abuse this position, and warn that at the slightest malaise, the position of the body should be immediately changed.