Can I sleep on my back during pregnancy?

As the pregnancy reactions in the early stages of pregnancy gradually subside, expectant mothers' diet in the second trimester increases significantly, and the baby in the belly gradually begins to grow. Generally, we can clearly see a bulge in the expectant mother's belly in the middle of pregnancy. But this also affects the sleeping posture of expectant mothers every night. So, does sleeping on your back during mid-pregnancy have any impact on the baby?

Does sleeping on your back during pregnancy have any effect on your baby?

Expectant mothers should try not to sleep lying down during the second trimester of pregnancy. During the second trimester of pregnancy, you should pay attention to protecting your abdomen to avoid the immediate effects of external force. If a pregnant woman has too much amniotic fluid or is pregnant with twins, she needs to sleep on her side, which can make her more comfortable. Other sleeping positions will cause compression syndrome. If pregnant women feel that their lower limbs are heavy, they can lie on their back and use a soft pillow to slightly raise their lower limbs.

How to sleep more comfortably during pregnancy :

1. Choose the left side sleeping position and alternate between the upper and lower parts appropriately.

Experts suggest that it is best to sleep on your left side during the second trimester of pregnancy. On the one hand, for pregnant women, sleeping on the left side can effectively relieve fatigue and muscle tension, which is beneficial to ensure a good sleep quality for pregnant women; on the other hand, sleeping on the left side will not cause compression on the large blood vessels in the abdomen of pregnant women, which will not affect blood flow back.

In addition, experts suggest that while mainly using the left side sleeping position, you can make some appropriate adjustments in your sleep quality, such as alternating between sleeping on your side or lying flat, so that your sleep quality will not be too difficult.

2. Use comfortable bedding sets

For pregnant women in the second trimester, it is not good for the mattress to be too soft, and the brown mattress or the padding that is not too thick are both good choices. The pillow core should also be of appropriate hardness, softness and height to ensure a good sleeping state for pregnant women. For the complex and changeable bedding for pregnant women on the market, you can consult an expert or doctor before purchasing it.

Common problems in mid-pregnancy

1. Be careful of constipation causing hemorrhoids during the second trimester

From the second trimester, the pregnant mother's uterus enlarges and presses on the posterior intestine, making it difficult to exert force when defecating and more difficult to defecate. In addition, the gastrointestinal motility is not good during pregnancy, and the transportation of food in the gastrointestinal tract is 30% slower than that before pregnancy, so it is more likely to cause constipation.

Expectant mothers should:

1) Maintain regular bowel habits and do not strain when defecating.

2) Drink more water.

3) Eat more fiber foods.

4) Do light exercise every morning, noon and evening, such as walking, gymnastics, etc.

5) Avoid eating spicy food or strong food.

Persistent constipation during pregnancy can easily cause hemorrhoids; in addition, the enlarged uterus during pregnancy will compress the anus, hindering blood circulation, causing congestion and leading to hemorrhoids.

To prevent hemorrhoids, you must first avoid constipation.

2. Be careful of back pain during the second trimester

After entering the second trimester, the expectant mother's abdomen begins to have a noticeable bulge, has some difficulty in moving, and even suffers from back pain.

The causes of back pain in expectant mothers include: changes in male hormones during pregnancy, which loosen the joints; changes in the mother's center of gravity, which gradually moves forward as the fetus grows, increasing the pressure on the intervertebral discs and coccyx, causing the muscles to bear too much strain; when the pregnant woman's body's unnecessary water flows to the pelvic veins, the lumbar nerves and spine cannot get enough oxygen.

Therefore, we recommend that expectant mothers wear stretch socks and slightly low-heeled boots to adjust the center of gravity backwards when they are active during the day. When lying flat at night, you can place a pillow between your knees, or use a special pillow to support your abdomen. If necessary, you can also apply appropriate local heat, massage, and do some exercises to strengthen the abdominal muscles. The most important thing is to avoid standing for long periods of time.