avoiding flat back positions

J

jgoycoolea

Cathlete
Just how serious is it to avoid laying on a flat back while pregnant? I've never heard of anything bad happening bc someone did. Maybe if being on a flat back is compromising you or baby, you naturally get dizzy or have trouble breathing and hance change positions and avoid problems. What if you feel fine?
 
Good question...I gave it up at about 15 weeks...they say to give it up starting in your second trimester...I really don't know the answer to that because today I was flat on my back for half an hour during a sonogram with no reprocussions. ???

Hopefully you will get an answer on this one!

I gave up doing ab work at all too because I don't have any good way to set up an incline for myself in order to do it. If I quit on it for no good reason, I'll be upset. x(

~Wendy~


We don't stop laughing because we grow old; We grow old because we stop laughing...Put more laughter into your life.
 
Hi,

I'm not pregnant now currently trying for #2. With my son, my doctor told me to try not to lay on my back for extended periods of time. I think depending on how the baby is positioned it could put a lot of pressure and restrict blood flow, dizziness.... I was worried because it never failed I always woke up laying on my back! I did do some exercises laying on my back all the way through, but limited to just a couple of minutes. I never had any problems with discomfort. Foor some exercises, I used my slant board instead of being totally flat on my back. I tried to listen to my body.

shellnc
 
When lying flat on your back after the first trimester, the uterus obstructs the vena cava, which is a large vein repsonsible for returning unoxygenated blood to the heart. As a result, the amount of blood pumped from the heart (cardiac output) is decreased and this can reduce the amount of blood flow and oxygen to your baby. This can occur without you experiencing any symtpoms.

http://69.0.137.118/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=5&topic_id=34&mesg_id=34&listing_type=search

ACOG recommends avoiding the supine position even at rest, but of course, we end up on our backs at prenatal visits, ultrasounds, etc. However, it is physiologically less demanding to be on your back at rest vs. exercising.
 
RE: avoiding flat back positions-I have a question.

Hello Autumn,

Thanks for the reply!:)

Question for Autumn, Sheila or anyone who might know:

I noticed on the box that my step came in that is says that I can stack the set of risers it came with under one side of the step to create an incline for other exercises...do you think this will create a sufficient enough incline for me to use to start doing a little ab work again? I would love to get back to it, but only if I am doing it safely.

Thanks in advance!

Wendy

We don't stop laughing because we grow old; We grow old because we stop laughing...Put more laughter into your life.
 
RE: avoiding flat back positions-I have a question.

Thanks so much Autumn!

I'll check out the links!

....

Grrr! x( I just read the links and I only have 2 risers...this really isn't gonna do much and I'm not ready to use any more for my step routines so I don't want to go buy more yet. I'll have to see if I can substitute with anything around the house to make the incline steeper..or..I'll just forgo the ab work for the duration of my pregnancy and after delivery I'll just have to work a little
harder!:)

Thanks again!

~Wendy~


We don't stop laughing because we grow old; We grow old because we stop laughing...Put more laughter into your life.
 
RE: avoiding flat back positions-I have a question.

Wendy,

Do you have a stability ball? Also, did you see the info on alternative exercises on all fours. That is what I did at the very end.

You can also work the abs and core by engaging the abs (and don't forget the pelvic floor... kegel) when you are using weights, doing everyday lifting, etc.

You take care!
 
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