Sleeping on the stomach

[JaceTheAce]

Doc,

I've read many articles recommending that you sleep on your side or back. I absolutely cannot sleep on my side or back - I can only fall asleep on my stomach. Even if I wake up in the middle of the night and attempt to fall asleep on my back, I will wake up and not be able to fall back asleep until I roll back over. I'm thinking this is all psychological (maybe there's some sort of comfort zone related to how my mother put me to sleep in the crib as a baby?).

Should I really worry about this for future back problems? If I can only sleep on my stomach, would you recommend a firm or softer mattress?

Thank you sir!

[SeanD]

I got the same problem, see the post on back pain I made. I have cronic back pains and my doctor told me sleeping on my stomach could be the problem. I too can not fall asleep on my back unless Im drunk or extremely tired. I wish I had the money for a Sleep Number bed.

[MQAAord]

I'm a stomach sleeper. Always have been. I blame my back issues on my big boobs and not my sleeping habits Who knows if that's true or not, but it makes me feel better about sleeping on my tummy!

It made being pregnant a real beeyatch. From about 4 months on, I had a LOT of trouble sleeping. I could sleep on my sides or back until about 7 or 8 months, but after that the baby gets too big and you HAVE to sleep on a side. For the last 3 months, I would wake up every hour, every night, all night long. It was sheer misery.

The happiest day was the day a few after they were born when I could finally roll over onto my stomach, without pain, and fall into blissful sleep........ at least until the baby would wake up again and want something to eat

[Maximillian_Jenius]

I sleep on my side curled up in a fetal position with a pillow between my knees/legs. Talk about comfortable!!!

Just thought I'd share!

[Qgar]

Originally Posted by Maximillian_Jenius

I sleep on my side curled up in a fetal position with a pillow between my knees/legs. Talk about comfortable!!!

Just thought I'd share!

I'll bet the good Dr. will agree that THAT is the best way to sleep. I always slept on my stomach as well, until the back pain became unbearable. As soon as I switched to the side, fetal position (also with a pillow), the back problems disappeared. It's hard to get used to at first, but it can be done!

[Andrew_VT]

I'm another stomach sleeper, and I frequently wake up with neck pain. I'm positive its because of my sleeping position, but I have no other choice if I want to actually fall asleep.

[My Flight Surgeon]

Try sleeping on your side with a pillow between your legs. Also try different thicknesses of pillows for your head.

[cmsuav8r]

I sleep on my stomach as well. Its kinda weird though because the way I sit makes my spine curve the opposite way as sleeping, so I think the two kinda balance out. It could just be that I'm young though, and that is why I don't experience back pain.

[bunghole]

Any nurse will advise: When sleeping on your back you put a pillow underneath you knees. It totally relieves lower back tension.

[bunghole]

For further reading:http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sle...0003_D&slide=1

[falconvalley]

I was a stomach sleeper until a few years ago. For no apparent reason I tried the fetal position thing with the pillow and slept so well I could not believe it. I never had problems sleeping before, it was just so relaxing! I sleep on my sides now. I can't sleep on my stomach anymore. I definitely WILL NOT voluntarily sleep on my back. I have really strange nightmares on my back. I almost never remember my dreams in any other position.

[I_Money]

I sleep with my gf in my arms -

[texas_pilot]

I read it's best for the heart to sleep on one's left side as much as possible to facilitate return blood flow back to the heart.

[Stinger]

I sleep on my stomach quite frequently with my head turned toward the wall for some reason. I remember when I was under 4-5 years old and sometimes when I was asleep, I'd end up face down on my pillow. Those always turned into dreams thinking that someone was drowning me, and I couldn't lift my head until I was totally awake.

I like to use pillows that have very few feathers left compared to full pillows. I'd rather not use a pillow than have a thick one.

[TheWife]

Man, I'm with Amber. Total tummy sleeper which is impossible when pregnant and can make sleeping pretty much not fun. I have a lot of neck and back pain. If I sleep on my side though, then I have shoulder pain from my shoulder being jammed into my side. I'd love to find a solution, I've tried the pillow in the knees and it just doesn't last, it falls out while I'm asleep.

[My Flight Surgeon]

Try a Sleep Number Bed FANTASTIC

[I_WANNA_BE_ATP]

Originally Posted by My Flight Surgeon

Try a Sleep Number Bed FANTASTIC

I got mine !!! Well, I got the pre sleep number select comfort bed. Best bed to sleep on!!!

[TheWife]

Wouldn't it be nice if our arms were removable and we could just take them off to go to sleep and then they wouldn't be in the way? It'd be even nicer if "other" things were too!

[NotCoolEnufToFly]

Wow, I never knew that tummy sleeping caused back pain! Interesting. That sucks for me because I too sleep on my stomach! I absolutely cannot fall asleep on my side, which is weird because when I was a kid it was the only way I could sleep. I can do the back thing better than I can the side, but I still end up on my stomach anyways.

[NotCoolEnufToFly]

Originally Posted by Stinger

I like to use pillows that have very few feathers left compared to full pillows. I'd rather not use a pillow than have a thick one.

Me too! I love the old flat pillows that you can flop around and fold in half! lol Everyone thinks I'm crazy but that's all I can sleep with!