Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Back Sleeper

I sleep on my back. I made it thirty-two years without knowing this. Had you asked me two weeks ago how I sleep, I would have confidently told you "on my side". I do not sleep on my side. In fact, if you roll me to my side in the middle of the night, the moment I fall back to sleep I will return to my back where I will reside until you roll me to my side again. This process will repeat itself all night.

I am now aware of my sleeping habits because two weeks ago I reached the pivotal moment where all three of my Pregnancy Books said I must not lay flat on my back. The dire consequences to Little One were expounded upon in one book to the point that I put back sleeping close to alcohol drinking. This must be clarified by my doctor on Monday. After two weeks of this, two previously sound sleepers spend their nights in a state of half awareness in order to constantly correct my sleeping position should I accidentally actually fall completely asleep and then turn on my back.

To be fair, this has been the first real inconvenience of pregnancy, so if we've got to spend the next several months preventing back sleeping, it could be so much worse. On the other hand, it seems rather cruel that something done in a subconscious state can affect your unborn child. It's one thing (albeit a big thing) to ask me to give up sweet tea, it's another to ask me to be aware of what I am doing when I am sleeping.

Anyway, that's the pregnancy news for the day. We will download our vacation pictures tonight and have them on here tomorrow. Have a blessed day.

6 comments:

judy said...

Wow, that is very interesting. I'd not heard that before.
I'll pass the info on to my two pregnant girls; daughter and daughter in law.
Thank you for stopping by.
Isn't blogging a blast? We can meet the neatest people. :)

Darla DiStefano said...

Wow, I have never heard that...thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting! and congrats on your little one!

Melissa said...

I'm glad to hear that we are not the only ones struggling with this ourselves. It is so funny how completely aware of our sleeping positions we are. Everytime I move, we both wake up. This is only the beginning I'm afraid! Take care!

Melissa

Jennifer said...

Ok, you sound like me and I finally asked and my doctor and I was told since it is in bed it wasn't a big deal, but any laying on hard surfaces or exercising on your back is dangerous. I assure you I do not plan to lay on any hard surfaces with this belly! Congratulations on the baby! I'm so glad you stopped by our blog!

Adrienne said...

I have read this many times too but I've heard from a couple Drs that if you are on your back and your blood supply is cut off you will feel it (tingling in your hands and feet, lightheadness etc) and you'll turn over before it hurts your baby. So just FYI. I sleep all over the place and sometimes even on my belly still. Just my humble opinion!!!

Kristen said...

I've heard this before and thought it was pretty strange! I also just recently heard that you aren't supposed to eat lunch meat...weird!