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  |  Pregnancy  |  2nd Trimester  |  Is sleeping on your back OK?
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Breastfeeding tips
Feeding and wellbeing advisor Vicki Scott provides some top tips on breastfeeding in public

Is sleeping on your back OK?

by Peg Plumbo

question
I'm in my 29th week of pregnancy and I have read that I should not sleep on my back. I have been sleeping on my side for the past several months, but it is very uncomfortable and I wake several times a night. Is it dangerous to sleep on your back while pregnant?

answer
During pregnancy you should feel free to sleep in whatever position is comfortable. You may have heard that during labour it is important for a woman to stay off her back. This is because of the chance of affecting the uterine placental blood flow, as the heavy uterus lies against the maternal vena cava; this can also cause light-headedness in the mother.

But during the pregnancy your baby can generally accommodate this with no problem unless he or she is severely compromised.

Rest easy.

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