Is it safe to lie on your back while pregnant? I'm almost 12 weeks along.

Tammy

Enjoy lying on your back for about another four weeks; after 16 weeks, the size and weight of the enlarging uterus can compress major blood vessels. Compression of the aorta, the huge artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body, can compromise blood flow to the baby. For short periods of time in an otherwise healthy pregnancy, this is not a problem, but in the long term, it can contribute to inadequate growth or even fetal distress in the baby. As for your health, lying on your back after 16 weeks can also compress the vena cava, the huge vein that carries blood from the lower part of the body back to the heart. This in turn can lead to swelling of the legs, varicose veins and hemorrhoids.

The best position for baby and mom is to lie on the side with pillows between the knees, behind the back and even under the belly. If you must lie on your back for some reason, place a rolled-up towel or a firm pillow under your right hip -- this will shift the uterus off those major blood vessels.