Can a pregnant woman sleep on her back? (and best position)

Until the 4th month of pregnancy, the pregnant woman can sleep on her back, without any problems. However, from the 4th month onwards, the ideal is to try to sleep on your side, also avoiding the prone position.

This happens because, as the baby grows and develops, it begins to place more weight on the breathing muscles, other organs and blood vessels, which can end up causing discomfort, such as hemorrhoids, swelling of the legs or tingling.

Therefore, from the second trimester of pregnancy, it is better for the pregnant woman to sleep only on her side, being able to use different pillows to support her legs and belly to feel more comfortable and thus guarantee good blood circulation, which is important to ensure the safety and good development of the baby.

Why you shouldn’t sleep on your back

After the belly starts to grow, in addition to becoming more uncomfortable sleeping on your back, this can increase the woman’s difficulty breathing, as the weight of the uterus can put pressure on the breathing muscles.

Furthermore, the weight of the belly can also make it difficult for blood to pass through the arteries in the hip region, which increases the risk of hemorrhoids, as well as swelling of the legs and a tingling sensation in the feet.

It is relatively common for pregnant women, who are sleeping on their backs, to wake up shortly after being in that position, as it is much more uncomfortable. Still, although it may be uncomfortable for the woman, this position does not cause any problems for the developing baby, and it should not be a cause for concern if she wakes up in this position, even after falling asleep on her side.

Best sleeping position

The best position to sleep during pregnancy is on your side, preferably on the left side. This is because sleeping on the right side can slightly reduce the amount of blood that circulates to the placenta, reducing the amount of blood, oxygen and nutrients that reach the baby.

Sleeping on the left side also improves kidney function, which means there is greater elimination of toxic substances that accumulate in the pregnant woman’s body.

How to sleep more comfortably

The best way to sleep more comfortably during pregnancy is to use pillows to support your body and the weight of your belly. A simple way, for women who prefer to sleep on their back, is to place pillows on their backs to sleep in a slightly seated position, which relieves the weight of the belly and also prevents reflux.

If you sleep on your side, pillows can also be good allies, as you can place a pillow under your belly to better support your weight and another between your legs to make the position more comfortable.

Another option is to exchange the bed for a comfortable reclining chair, where the pregnant woman can have her back slightly higher, reducing the weight of the uterus on the organs, veins and breathing muscles.