If you like to sleep on your stomach, you may be wondering what will happen if a pregnant woman lies on her stomach. We understand you: you care about the health and safety of your baby. The good news is that in the early stages of pregnancy, lying on your stomach is completely safe. However, as pregnancy progresses, the situation may change, according to gynecologist Kim Langdon.
ContentWhat will happen if a pregnant woman lies on her stomach?Why pregnant women are not recommended to sleep on their backsWhy do people lie on their stomachs during pregnancy?
WomanEL will tell you everything you need to know about how to lie on your stomach during pregnancy, including how in some cases it can even benefit you.
What happens if a pregnant woman lies on her stomach?
It is safe for pregnant women to lie on their stomachs for a short time. This is stated in a study conducted in 2018 in the journal BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.
The study involved pregnant women with preeclampsia, which meant their pregnancies were at high risk. The results concluded that short periods of sleeping or lying on your stomach during pregnancy are not dangerous.
Gynaecologist Mira Nwegbo-Banks says that lying on your stomach during pregnancy is not harmful to your baby. But as your belly grows, you may find that this position is no longer optimal for you, as it can cause discomfort as your uterus grows.
- When not to lie on your stomach during pregnancy.Although sleeping on your stomach is considered safe in early pregnancy, always listen to your body. If you feel pain or discomfort, try a different position. If you have any concerns, talk to your healthcare provider. Together, you can choose the best sleeping position for you and discuss whether sleeping on your stomach is recommended during pregnancy.
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Why pregnant women are not recommended to sleep on their back
Pregnant women in late pregnancy should avoid sleeping on their backs. This can cause complications and reduce blood flow, Source: freepik.com
Although this position is considered one of the best for posture, sleeping on your back during pregnancy is generally discouraged. Between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, your uterus starts to grow large enough to interfere with blood flow when you sleep on your back, as it can compress the inferior vena cava.
Sleeping on your back during pregnancy can also cause the aorta, the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body, to narrow, blocking the main blood flow to the body and placenta.
As a result, “sleeping on your back can reduce blood flow to the heart, so the mother may wake up feeling short of breath or have a racing heart,” says midwife Amelia Henning.
By the way, obstetrician Alan Lindemann also assures that sleeping on the right side is no less safe. This can increase the likelihood of your baby being cut off from oxygen and nutrients.
- So it’s recommended to lie on your left side during this period.
Why do people lie on their stomachs during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, quality sleep can become even more important. more difficult task. You may be completely exhausted, have insomnia, sleep more than usual, or your belly may be preventing you from finding a comfortable position to rest.
Some people prefer to sleep on their stomachs because they feel most comfortable lying down (on their stomachs). If you like sleeping on your stomach, you may want to use a pregnancy pillow to help you sleep comfortably as your belly grows.
Later in pregnancy, as your belly grows, lying on your stomach may become uncomfortable. In this case, you may want to find another safe position, such as on your left side or balancing between your side and your back.
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