Going to sleep in the supine position (on the back) in late pregnancy is a recently identified and modifiable risk factor for late stillbirth. New research shows that women can halve their risk of stillbirth by going to sleep on their side from 28 weeks pregnancy compared with sleeping in the supine position.
Back sleeping is no longer safe after 28 weeks gestation, but there are a few other comfortable positions for you to safely doze in.
Stomach sleeping may be fine for the first part of the second trimester, until the growing baby bump makes this position uncomfortable. Starting around week 16, you should try to avoid sleeping on your back.
Sleeping on the back or side through the 30th week of pregnancy does not appear to increase the risk of stillbirth, reduced size at birth, or high blood pressure disorders of pregnancy, suggests an analysis funded by NIH's Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
Between 15 and 20 weeks gestation, the uterus starts becoming large enough to interfere with blood flow when you sleep on your back, as it can compress the IVC.
If you typically sleep on your back (supine), it's safe to continue doing so through the first trimester. But as your uterus gets heavier around mid-pregnancy, it's best to choose another position.
There are some studies that have found a small link between stillbirth and sleep position, but overall, there is no compelling evidence that occasionally or accidentally sleeping on your baby during pregnancy will hurt your fetus.
Your nausea and vomiting may be worse than ever: Morning sickness peaks around 9 or 10 weeks of pregnancy for many women. That's when levels of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are highest (morning sickness is thought to be linked to rises in hCG and estrogen).
Early on in pregnancy, you can sleep on your stomach. Eventually, that position can become uncomfortable. But it's OK to sleep on your stomach if it is comfortable. Lying on your back is not recommended because of pressure on the inferior vena cava.
Women expecting their second or subsequent child may start to show earlier, because their muscles have been stretched by a previous pregnancy. You're short. Short women or women with shorter torsos may show earlier or have a larger-looking bump, because they have less space for the baby to fill, lengthwise.
Depending on your stage of pregnancy, your body type, and even the time of day, sometimes your belly will feel soft and other times it will feel tight and hard. The reality is, there's no normal to compare yourself with. Pregnant bellies come in all shapes, sizes, and firmness.
Where is my baby at 15 weeks in my stomach? Your baby's current home is the amniotic sac in your uterus. The uterus begins about four or five inches below your navel. At 15 weeks, it weighs approximately 8.5 ounces.
Your baby. Your baby is about 6cm long — about the size of a plum – and weighs about 18g. The fetus has almost doubled in size in the past 4 weeks and is now fully formed, with all of the organs, muscles, limbs and bones in place. At this point, your baby fills your whole uterus.
In fact, resveratrol has many benefits for your baby when you consume it by eating grapes. "If eaten in moderation as part of a balanced diet, grapes are generally tolerated well during pregnancy," notes Len Kliman, MD, an OB/GYN with over 35 years experience.
“As long as you're not flat on your back, you're going to be fine,” she says. “Even if you can be on a 20- to 30-degree angle, that's going to relieve any potential pressure on your inferior vena cava.
Typically, your bump becomes noticeable during your second trimester. Between 16-20 weeks, your body will start showing your baby's growth. For some women, their bump may not be noticeable until the end of the second trimester and even into the third trimester. The second trimester starts in the fourth month.
Just 12 weeks after your last period, the foetus is fully formed. All the organs, muscles, limbs and bones are in place, and the sex organs are well developed. From now on, the baby has to grow and mature.
Most moms will tell you that the first and last months of pregnancy are the hardest. The first eight to 12 weeks can certainly present some debilitating symptoms: morning sickness and nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, and fatigue so strong it sentences you to the couch for days. Challenging, no doubt.
The fetus is most vulnerable during the first 12 weeks. During this period of time, all of the major organs and body systems are forming and can be damaged if the fetus is exposed to drugs, infectious agents, radiation, certain medications, tobacco and toxic substances.
Experts recommend sleeping on your side during pregnancy. While health care providers used to suggest left-side sleeping because it's more optimal for blood flow, current research doesn't support restricting right-sided sleeping.
Sleeping On Your Left Side
The result of venous compression is slowed blood return to the heart, and less blood circulation to the body, including the uterus. Because of the change in blood flow you may start to feel nauseous and light headed, like someone is choking you or like you are about to pass out.
A woman's body undergoes many changes due to hormonal effects during pregnancy to support the uterus. Hormonal activity loosens up ligaments, and increases the capacity of the chest and abdominal cavity. The wearing of tight clothes can therefore interfere with these physical changes and cause discomfort.