Bearing a baby is such a crucial period when you should pay a lot of attention to even the most familiar things. Even the wrong posture can harm the health of the mother and her baby. Why can't a pregnant woman sleep on her back? Let's talk about it.
Features of sleep in the first trimester
How to sleep pregnant in the early stages? This question worries women who are not yet accustomed to a new state for them. Before 12 weeks, the embryo is formed. Throughout this period, he is protected by the placenta. There are several characteristic features for this period:
- The fetus and uterus are small. Accordingly, pressure on the internal organs practically does not come.
- The baby is protected by the placenta, so a woman can easily turn from one side to another, not being afraid that she would cause injury to her unborn baby.
Conclusion: sleeping in the first trimester on your back is possible if the expectant mother feels well, and in the absence of the threat of a miscarriage. By week 12, the uterus will gradually increase and begin to put pressure on neighboring internal organs, so it will be necessary to begin to gradually wean from this comfortable position.
Features of sleep in the II trimester
By the 12th week of development, the embryo is noticeably heavier. By this time, lying down on your back should be abandoned. This is due to some physiological features:
- The uterus has grown to an impressive size. Now she will put pressure on the kidneys, liver and intestines.
- All the severity will go to the spine. With this pose, the risk of squeezing the vena cava increases, which can provoke the development of adverse effects: respiratory rhythm disturbance; the appearance of dizziness; numbness of the limbs; the appearance of shortness of breath.
- Gynecologists claim that when the patient is lying on his back, the connection between the mother and the child through the placenta is broken. As a result, oxygen starvation of the fetus develops (hypoxia).
- Due to the increased load, pain in the lower back and tailbone may appear.
If the "interesting position" has reached the 12th week, then lying on your stomach is prohibited. How to sleep pregnant in the second trimester? Doctors recommend resting on one side.
Features of sleep in the III trimester
How to sleep pregnant in the 3rd trimester? Perhaps this is the most common question asked by gynecological patients. Doctors strongly do not recommend lying to the expectant mother on her back for a long time. Such a vacation can become a provocateur of negative consequences.
- A large stomach will press on a venous vessel located in the immediate vicinity of the spine.
- A constricted vein disrupts blood circulation. Accordingly, dizziness may worsen or fainting may occur.
- A grown uterus puts pressure on the bladder. When the patient is lying on his back, spontaneous fluid release may occur.
- The most common ailment is mild discomfort or acute pain in the lower back.
- The most dangerous consequence is a violation of the oxygen exchange between the mother and the baby - hypoxia. This is a serious disease that violates the full development of the fetus.
Even if a woman has a small stomach and feels well, sleeping on her back is strongly discouraged. Rest in this position of the body can lead to unpleasant consequences for both the mother and her baby.
Perfect pose
Each patient of the obstetrics and gynecology clinic should know about the position in which pregnant women should sleep. It is important to properly fix the body on the bed.
- Take a position - lying on your left side.
- Without fail, the head should be located above the level of the limbs.
- Bend the right leg slightly, the left leg should remain straight.
- If you can’t fix the body in this position yourself, then you can put a solid pillow under your back, side or legs.
Obstetrician-gynecologists recommend that in this position the expectant mothers sleep in the second and third trimester in order to maximize their own health and not impede the full development of the embryo.
The benefits of relaxing on your side
For a long time, specialists in the field of medicine actively studied the topic entitled "How to sleep pregnant women?". During the study, it was found that the ideal position is lying on its side. There are several advantages of relaxing in this position:
- For a long time, the spine will be in a relaxed state.
- The abdomen does not affect the internal organs. Due to the lack of pressure on them, the body will work without failures, pain symptoms will not appear.
- Many women experience edema during pregnancy. Rest in this position will avoid their appearance. This is due to the lack of burden on the kidneys.
- The body will work smoothly, which means that blood circulation will not be disturbed. The formation of problems such as hypoxia can be prevented.
If numbness appears, you can gently and slowly move to the other side. In this position, a woman and her baby will be able to fully and safely relax.
Basic rules for sleeping during pregnancy
So, we managed to find out why a pregnant woman should not sleep on her back. Now, it’s worth talking about the basic rules of rest for a future mother, which apply to all periods of pregnancy.
Rule number 1. Fresh air is necessary for every living organism. And for a woman “in position” it is indispensable: it will help to avoid shortness of breath, dizziness and increased pressure. It is recommended that you carefully ventilate the room before going to bed or take night walks.
Rule number 2. So, we were able to figure out how to sleep pregnant. Now, it's worth talking about when they need to sleep. During the development of the embryo, a hormonal failure occurs in the patient's body. In this regard, a feeling of drowsiness and fatigue may appear. You need to sleep when the body requires it. Normally, a woman should rest for 7-8 hours at night and 1-2 hours in the afternoon.
Rule number 3. During the examination of ultrasound specialist can determine the wrong location of the fetus. If he took a transverse position, then he should sleep on the side where his head is directed.
Rule number 4. It is recommended to use special pillows for pregnant women. They contribute to the most favorable and comfortable rest.
Rule number 5. Do not allow late dinners. Firstly, due to the heavy consumption of food, the load on all internal organs increases. Secondly, regular overeating will lead to weight gain for the mother and baby. It is also not recommended to drink strong tea or coffee in the evening.
Rule number 6. If a woman is forced to experience constant stress, then before going to bed she needs to relax as much as possible. It is recommended to distribute 5-7 drops of lavender or peppermint essential oil indoors.
Healthy sleep is the key to well-being and good health of every living organism. Therefore, it is important to think not only about how you can sleep for pregnant girls, but also to master all the rules of an ideal holiday.
How to occupy an upright position?
Bearing a baby is a very important and crucial period. Even one wrong movement can harm its full development. It is important to think in advance not only about which side is better for pregnant women to sleep on , but also how to move to an upright position. First of all, you should carefully sit down and move to the edge of the bed. After that, you need to fix your feet on the floor and stand up gently. Be sure to help yourself with your hands, leaning on a bedside table or chair.
Remember: a sharp movement or a blow to the stomach can lead to a violation of the full development of the fetus. A quick “jump” from the bed is a provocateur of dizziness.
How to take a horizontal position?
Much has been said above about why a pregnant woman should not sleep on her back. As it turned out, the wrong posture can cause serious and irreparable harm to the health of the mother and baby. It is required not only to rest in the correct position, but also to occupy it correctly.
You should slowly sit on the edge of the bed. Gently take a horizontal position, pulling your legs toward you. Now it remains to bend the limbs and lock in a comfortable position.
Can I sleep on my stomach?
Surprisingly, many girls also ask how pregnant women can sleep on their stomachs, and is it even possible to do this? In the first trimester, the embryo is just beginning to develop, so the uterus has its original size. Gynecologists say that up to 8 weeks of pregnancy, the expectant mother can sleep on her stomach. Such a pose (in the absence of a threat of miscarriage) will not harm either her or her long-awaited baby. If the expectant mother will sleep on her stomach after 8 weeks of pregnancy, then she can injure an immature baby. To occupy such a position at the end of the first, second and third trimester is strictly prohibited.
Conclusion
A full sleep is a necessary component for a gynecological patient who is in an “interesting position”. At least 8 hours a day should be allowed to rest. It is important to carefully study the question of why a pregnant woman should not sleep on her back and stomach. Any improper movement or body position at any time of the day can be a threat to the life of the mother and her baby.