Why is sleeping on your stomach very dangerous? And how can this lead to infertility?

Doctors' opinions

In some religions, sleeping on your stomach is highly discouraged.
So in Islam, this position is considered offensive to Allah, it is characteristic of a sinful person who is trying to hide his sins from God, therefore it is not appropriate for respectable Muslims to sleep in this position. Islam forbids Muslims to sleep face down, so a person turns his back to the Almighty, which indicates blasphemy, disrespect and atheism. In the old days, men were punished for this position, since it was believed that in this position their genitals were in a shameful form. Today this rule is rarely observed, but Muslims and Muslim women who respect their faith do not sleep on their stomachs.

The ancient Slavs also could not sleep on their stomachs. According to pagan beliefs, in this position a person provokes the wrath of the brownie, who can strangle a person in his sleep. Therefore, the ancient Slavs called the position with the back up the pose of the deceased.

Every religion has its own explanation of the theory - why you can’t sleep on your stomach

Magicians and sorcerers, psychics support representatives of religion, but they explain why you can’t sleep on your stomach by saying that the chakras located on the chest, which during rest should cleanse the body by letting positive energy into it, do not open.

The position with your back up while sleeping is a fairly comfortable position that many people like to stay in. But doctors do not share their commitment to being in this position, believing that sleeping on the stomach is incorrect and harmful.

Doctors warn that in this position all the vessels of the spine are compressed. The cervicothoracic region is especially affected, because in this position a person turns his head to the side and presses it to the pillow. When sleeping, the natural position of the spine is disrupted. A person turns his head to the side, which provokes curvature of the spine. At the same time, the carotid artery is compressed.

Sometimes sleeping on your stomach can cause back pain

The situation is complicated in the presence of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis and atherosclerosis. If the vessels are already compressed by damaged vertebrae or clogged with atherosclerotic plaques, the risk of oxygen starvation of the brain increases sharply, which is very dangerous for the life of the sleeper, as it leads to a stroke.

It is dangerously harmful for men to sleep on their stomachs, because the blood supply to the external genitalia is disrupted, which affects the sexual activity of representatives of the stronger half of humanity, up to the development of impotence.

When lying on the stomach, the chest is also subjected to compression, which is why the heart and lungs cannot function fully. Breathing becomes difficult, the whole body does not receive enough oxygen, and after a night’s sleep a person will not regain his strength. When you sleep for a long time on your stomach, due to compression of the blood vessels, the heart has to contract with double force to push blood through. This provokes increased blood pressure and increased heart rate, which leads to persistent hypertension and arrhythmia.

In a woman, compression of the chest and mammary glands with the weight of her own body leads to the appearance of stretch marks, breast cancer, and sagging.

The entire weight also puts pressure on the abdominal organs, especially if a person raises his feet while sleeping on his stomach. This leads to their inferior functioning. Stagnation of bile in the bile ducts may occur, the liver and pancreas have difficulty working.

The face down position during sleep affects a person's appearance. His face swells and bags appear under his eyes in the morning. If you press against a pillow for a long time, the elasticity of the skin is impaired; folds appear between the eyebrows, on the neck, and on the forehead, which are very difficult to get rid of even with the help of cosmetic procedures.

Premature appearance of wrinkles and folds on the face is the result of improper sleeping position

Sleeping with your back up is not recommended for older people, patients with heart disease, osteochondrosis, and atherosclerosis. Is it possible for completely healthy people to sleep on their stomach? And in this case, doctors do not recommend this position. It is unknown what diseases threaten them in the future, so it is better not to form such a habit, then it will be difficult to break the habit.

Harm to the body

If you prefer this particular position while sleeping, then you better get rid of this habit as soon as possible. With this position of the body, pressure on the internal organs increases, which is fraught with various problems:

The spine suffers
because in this position the head is turned to the side. This leads to compression of the carotid artery and deterioration of brain nutrition. Overstrain of the muscles in the spinal column provokes problems with posture.
Compression of the chest causes disruptions in heart rhythm and the manifestation of pathologies in the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
Lung function deteriorates
, which means that the body is supplied with oxygen in smaller volumes.
The digestive system is negatively affected - stomach pains become more frequent, nausea with belching appears.
We should not forget about the condition of the genitourinary and reproductive systems. It is because of the pressure of the bladder on the reproductive organs that problems with the functioning of the ovaries appear. This is why girls should not sleep on their stomachs.
Intraocular pressure increases
, which negatively affects the functioning of the visual organs and the general well-being of a woman.

Why sleep on your stomach?

Sleeping on your stomach immediately after childbirth is not only possible, but even necessary. This will not only speed up the recovery process, but will also help cope with some problems characteristic of the postpartum period.

Constipation

Probably every woman who has recently given birth is familiar with this trouble. It occurs due to the inability to quickly return to an active lifestyle. Nutrition for nursing with a huge number of restrictions also does not improve bowel function.

Abdominal muscles

Dramatic changes in body shape during pregnancy lead to stretching of the abdominal muscles. This is completely unattractive, and because of this, the internal organs are poorly supported. Of course, it’s still too early to do any serious abdominal exercises. An affordable way to tighten your muscles a little during the postpartum period is to sleep on your stomach.

This position helps to organize the internal organs that were displaced during the period of bearing a child. It also has a beneficial effect on appearance.

Back muscles

When carrying a baby, there was quite a heavy load on my back. It mainly concerned the muscles of the lumbar region. After childbirth, they should maintain their acquired elasticity and “training”. However, their complete relaxation during this period can negatively affect the fibers.

If you regularly go to sleep on your stomach, this will keep them in proper tone. This way, returning to your pre-pregnancy state will become much simpler and easier.

Positive emotions

For many months the woman was physically unable to lie on her stomach. She experienced particular discomfort if this position was her favorite. After the birth of the baby, returning to the most comfortable position in bed gives positive emotions. By the way, in the postpartum period they are also very important.

What are the consequences of sleeping on your stomach?

There is a risk of the first signs of premature aging from constantly sleeping on your stomach. This is manifested by wrinkles in the nose and lips, and the face will often begin to swell, especially in the morning. If in a dream a person unconsciously turns over on his stomach, but not for long, then the risk of such consequences is minimal.

Pregnant women should not sleep on their stomach, especially in later stages: this can be dangerous for the baby. Doctors recommend lying only on your side, which will ensure normal nutrition of the embryo inside the mother.

How to create a relaxing environment for a night's rest?

The expectant mother's bedroom should be cozy and conducive to relaxation. Use the following recommendations:

Provide fresh air. In summer, open the window for micro-ventilation, and in winter, ventilate the room 30 minutes before bedtime.
Take your choice of pajamas seriously - they should be loose, soft and comfortable, not restrict your movements. If your feet get cold at night, wear socks.
A late, hearty dinner can only ruin your sleep. But a light snack consisting of dietary products, on the contrary, will help you fall asleep quickly (for example, a sandwich with lean boiled meat, low-fat yogurt, bananas, etc.).
The quality of your night's sleep largely depends on the quality of your mattress. It should be of medium hardness and comfortable according to your subjective feelings. If the mattress is too hard, cover it with a thick blanket.
It's better if the bedroom is a little cool than hot. The body produces additional heat during pregnancy, and a hot atmosphere in the room can negatively affect the quality of sleep.

How to get used to it

“I can’t sleep on my back, it’s uncomfortable,” this can often be heard from those who like to curl up, lie on their sides or on their stomachs. As they say, it is inconvenient to sleep only on the ceiling. And you can get used to all other poses. Let's look at how to speed up the addiction process.

Mattress

First of all, you should lie down in the place where you will accustom yourself to a new position. Check if there are any bulges or depressions there. Unevenness in the mattress and roughness in the bed will inevitably cause discomfort. And you, of course, will want to roll over somewhere as soon as possible. Moreover, you will do this involuntarily.

Pillow

When you lie comfortably, your muscles are completely relaxed, you will not have the desire to change the position of your body, even in your sleep. To ensure such a night idyll, you will need to acquire a high-quality orthopedic pillow. There should be a dimple in it designed to properly position the head. This sleeping accessory is specifically designed for sleeping lying on your back. This means that you won’t need to customize it further.

Perseverance

If you've been sleeping curled up or on your side for years, lying on your back can be downright uncomfortable. But that doesn't mean it's not right for you. Show maximum persistence and under no circumstances give up what you started.

To make the addiction process easier, enlist the support of your husband (wife). Agree to change positions together. This way you can prove to each other that you can easily keep your promises to yourself.

Relaxation

Thinking in bed about everyday problems, thinking about something leads to the fact that you can’t relax on your back. You need to throw away all the thoughts that bother you, leave the problems in the end of the day and think about something pleasant.

For example, you can remember your cherished dreams, holidays ahead or vacation. Many people find it helpful to turn off access to the Internet, turn off the TV, and read a book. “I sleep in a good mood,” this affirmation should become the basic rule for going to bed.

Now about the benefits

Doctors sometimes recommend sleeping on your stomach to improve your well-being, so it's worth considering when sleeping in this position might be beneficial:

We recommend reading! Click on the link:

Is it harmful if a newborn baby sleeps on his stomach?

early postpartum period. Additional stimulation of uterine contraction occurs, and the abdominal muscles are strengthened;
condition after caesarean section. The same as after childbirth, and additionally reduces pain in the postoperative scar;
menstrual pain. During menstruation, this position helps reduce pain;
snore. If you listen to the breathing of a snorer, you will notice that breathing stops for a short period of time, and then snoring is heard. Such stops mean that the body is left without oxygen for a short time. And this is dangerous. People who snore sleep on their backs and begin to breathe quietly when they change positions. In this case, it is believed that sleeping on the stomach is much safer;
stomach pain and bloating. Oddly enough, in this position there is almost no gas, and painful discomfort is reduced. Many patients during an exacerbation of the disease additionally place a pillow under their stomach to alleviate the condition.

Does this mean sleeping on your stomach is beneficial? Not always. You can sleep in this position, but not for long; do not forget about the harmful effects of this position in bed.

What is the character of a person if he sleeps on his stomach?

If a person sleeps on their stomach with their arms under the pillow and their head turned to the side,

it is believed that he is very impulsive, vulnerable, but at the same time he can be either impudent and arrogant, or, conversely, well-mannered and calm. Such a person is unlikely to calmly accept criticism addressed to him.

If a person sleeps on his stomach with his arms and legs spread out to the sides,

then he is persistent, purposeful, loves order, which is why he cannot tolerate any surprises. It is believed that such people are successful and always achieve well-being.

Whether this is true or not, believe it or not - judge for yourself, since this is from the field of psychology. And, as you know, she can be wrong.

Now the question is different: is it good or bad to sleep on your stomach?

I think that the answer cannot be unambiguous. It all depends on the person himself, his body characteristics, his health.

For example, I cannot stay on my stomach for more than 15 minutes. My nose is starting to get stuffy. It feels like everything around the bridge of my nose is swelling. I can't breathe. What a dream this is! That's why I sleep only on my back, and without a pillow. And I feel comfortable.

Others, on the contrary, cannot sleep on their back because they start snoring. And his own snoring prevents sleep not only from those around him, but also from himself.

What are the benefits of lying on your stomach?

During wakefulness, a person remains in an upright position for a long time. His back gets tired, especially if he is overweight or has a curvature of the spine - scoliosis. The spine is under a lot of stress, so it simply needs to be given the opportunity to straighten and relieve tension.

Therefore, you need to lie on your stomach for a while, choosing a flat surface so that the spine can take an even position. Of course, in this case, a pillow is excluded, otherwise the back will arch altogether, and the arms should be lowered along the body.

We lay down for a while, felt that our back was rested - now you can turn over as you please.

It is also useful to lie on your stomach if your stomach hurts.

For example, with excessive gas formation. Then the pain in the stomach is not felt so much. It’s not for nothing that babies are laid on their stomachs so that their gas will go away.

It is useful to lie on your stomach if you have kidney disease.

When lying in this position, there is less pressure on them and they work better.

If you have problems with digestion, you also need to lie on your stomach more often.

But you just can’t do this right after eating, as this can cause discomfort. Wait at least half an hour.

But staying on your stomach for a long time turns out to be harmful. Why? Read on!

Why you can't sleep on your stomach

Do not confuse simply lying down with sleeping. You lie on your stomach - to unload the spine - for a maximum of half an hour - an hour, and sleep on your stomach - 6-8 hours. What could this lead to?

Spanish scientists have found that sleeping on their stomachs is not only undesirable for men, but also harmful.

During such sleep, almost all organs are compressed, in particular the genitals. Why impotence may develop.

Girls are not at risk of impotence. But they have breasts. Frequently sleeping on your stomach causes your chest to become compressed. Firstly, blood circulation in the chest may be impaired, which will affect the functioning of the heart

(this applies not only to women, but also to men).
Secondly, wrinkles and stretch marks will appear on the chest itself
, especially if the breast size is larger than the first.
And thirdly, and most dangerously, breast cancer may develop
. This is also the opinion of doctors.

Also, when sleeping on the stomach, when a person's head is turned to the side, blood flow in the arteries near the spine, through which food flows to the brain, is disrupted. This affects cerebral circulation, and atherosclerosis may eventually develop.

Now imagine. You sleep on your stomach with your head turned to the side. The cheek you're lying on is crumpled like a pillow. The eye is swollen... In the morning, looking at yourself in the mirror, you see a swollen face from lying on it for a long time. Hence the wrinkles on the face and swelling in the morning.

Sleeping on your stomach is also harmful for pregnant women.

Even if the period is still short, and the fetus is protected by the bones of the pelvis, there is still a load on it. Oxygen is also poorly supplied to the fetus, since breathing goes to half the volume of the chest. Soon, when the belly is already visible, you can’t sleep on it at all. And if this is your favorite pose, then you need to wean yourself from it in advance.

As you can see, the answer is clear:

Sleeping on your stomach is harmful, but periodically turning on it and lying for a while is beneficial.

So, good night in a comfortable and correct position!

source

Is it possible to sleep on your stomach: arguments in favor of such sleep

This position on the bed reduces pain in the stomach and helps with periodic pain in girls.
Sleeping on your stomach can help during bloating and flatulence.
In some diseases of the spine, when it is necessary to “stretch” it, the question of how to wean yourself from sleeping on your stomach is considered irrelevant. This position, on the contrary, is welcome, but so that the spine, neck, and head are on the same line. This is achieved both by removing the pillow and placing cushions under the chest, stomach, and pelvic area.
If you snore, as well as a tendency to suddenly stop breathing in a sleepy state, doctors do not recommend sleeping on your back, but rolling over onto your stomach is quite acceptable.
In cases of poisoning and in situations of possible sudden vomiting, lying on the stomach is also allowed.

Is it useful to fall asleep lying on your stomach? To a large extent, the answer is negative. It is worth remembering that such a dream does not immediately negatively affect your health, but problems slowly accumulate, forming a painful condition. And we must take into account that it is especially harmful for elderly people to sleep on their stomachs, when the risk of sudden respiratory arrest, stroke or heart attack is very high.

Is it permissible for pregnant women and children to sleep on their stomach?

Doctors believe that until about 10-12 weeks of pregnancy, expectant mothers may not try to find a solution to how to wean themselves from sleeping on their stomachs if this habit is too strong. As the fetus grows, sleeping in this position will simply become unavailable, causing inconvenience, discomfort and even chest pain. However, we can name three specific reasons why sleeping in this way in an “interesting position” is not recommended.

Too much pressure on the breasts can cause congestion in the mammary glands, provoke inflammation, and milk secretion.
The pressure exerted by the mother's body on the child in the womb is quite strong. And it can provoke various kinds of congenital pathologies of the fetus.
When a woman in an “interesting position” falls asleep on her stomach, this not only leads to a lack of oxygen in her blood, but can also provoke fetal hypoxia.

Already established mothers often notice that the baby prefers to be in the crib not only in the fetal position, but also sitting on the tummy. Sleeping on the stomach of an infant - what can it lead to?

Pediatricians, answering the question at what age can you sleep on your tummy, adhere to the idea that such a body position is acceptable after one month of life. However, you need to be extremely careful. Allowing your baby to sleep on his tummy all the time can cause sudden apnea or sudden infant death syndrome.

But doctors also highlight a number of reasons why it is useful for children to fall asleep in this position.

It is believed that this position in bed helps fight gas and colic.
There is an assumption that babies who choose to sleep on their stomachs begin to hold their head up and crawl faster.
Due to the fact that the bones of the skull are still very fragile, falling asleep not on the back is useful because the risk of deformation of the skull bones is minimized.
This position of the child’s body allows the bones of the pelvic area to develop correctly.
The risk of vomit entering the respiratory tract during uncontrolled belching is reduced.

Causes

Sleep is a special state in which the sleeper remains for more than 6 hours a day. Doctors recommend resting on your side.

When sleeping on your back, certain consequences may develop. In some cases there will be no particular harm to the body, but in others serious complications are possible.

Inability to fully rest

Sleep is necessary to replenish your strength. This position puts a certain load on the body, which does not interfere with the ability to fully relax.

Presence of diseases

In the presence of diseases, this position can aggravate the situation, especially for diseases of the respiratory system.

In case of diseases of the spine, this position leads to a large load on it. Pain and discomfort appear.

Pregnancy

Expectant mothers are not allowed to be in this position during the 2nd-3rd trimester.

There are some reasons for this:

Due to the rapidly growing fetus, important organs are affected. It is harmful for pregnant women to sleep on their back because in this position the child puts pressure on the ureters, and urine stagnation occurs. If it accumulates, it can cause inflammation of the kidneys. Failures in their work can lead to premature birth or miscarriage.
Digestive problems may begin. The fruit puts pressure on the stomach, which can cause severe heartburn. This body position can lead to constipation.
Sleeping on your back during pregnancy can cause hypoxia. The growing fetus puts pressure on the vena cava, which leads to poor circulation. This in turn leads to varicose veins in the groin and legs. In some cases, a caesarean section may even be required.

Infancy

At this age, children may develop breathing problems, which will lead to negative consequences. Parents may not keep track, and the baby will suffocate.

Harmful to organs

It is believed that the weight of a person sleeping on his stomach puts pressure on the internal organs, which interferes with their full functioning. The digestive system and bladder are under pressure, the weight is putting pressure on the heart - causing it to work in unfavorable conditions, and so on. The lungs are especially affected: breathing in this position is very problematic, the body does not receive enough oxygen. In addition, if a person sleeps on his stomach constantly, this leads to unpleasant consequences with the spine, skin and reproductive system. Yes, yes, if a man always sleeps on his stomach, then the weight of his body compresses the arteries that supply the sexual organ with blood, and also compresses all internal organs, which gradually leads to serious problems. In women, the ovaries suffer for the same reason.

How to sleep correctly

Just lying on your back, it turns out, is not enough. For this position to be truly beneficial to your health, you need to know how to sleep in it correctly.

Lie on your back and place a pillow or small bolster under your knees. Then bend your legs slightly and try to fall asleep. Remember to raise your legs and hips slightly.
Place a small soft cushion behind your lower back. It is necessary to provide support to this department. This position of the spinal column is considered neutral. It does not cause pain, deformation, curvature or abnormal alignment.
Place a roll filled with buckwheat husks under your neck. Its thickness should be about the same as your neck. Let him replace your pillow. By the way, this is one of the recommendations of chiropractors. Its value lies in the fact that the spine takes the correct position.
If you can't give up pillows, use them to raise your head a little. This is necessary to facilitate breathing during sleep. Sleep 3-4 nights on one, then get two. Decide what quantity will be optimal for you. As an alternative, you can purchase a pillow that is designed specifically to relieve tension in the neck muscles. Sleep comfort immediately improves. Consider purchasing an orthopedic pillow that fits closely to your head and neck, providing excellent support. Wedge-shaped products also support the head well and promote proper breathing in the face-up pose.

When is it good for babies to sleep on their stomach?

The benefits of sleeping in this position are as follows:

the load on the spine is reduced, which is useful for newborns;
muscles and skeleton are strengthened;
the likelihood of choking during regurgitation is reduced;
the passage of gases improves, colic decreases;
the likelihood of flinching and fright during sleep is reduced;

The position on your stomach at night may seem uncomfortable from the outside.

Babies often sleep on their stomachs at night when they have digestive problems.

The baby turns over on his stomach and tucks his legs under him. One gets the impression that he is uncomfortable. But this is not so, since this is a physiological position. This is how it was located in the womb.

On the side

This is the most common position: about 41% of people fall asleep on their side. Some people are used to sleeping only on the left or only on the right, while for others it makes no fundamental difference which side to lie on. Both positions are equally safe for the spine, however, research shows that lying on the left or right side can have different effects on the quality of sleep. It turns out that people who sleep on the left side are more likely to have nightmares in which they find themselves in dangerous situations. Dreams on the right side are usually much more pleasant: people see beautiful landscapes and feel safe.

Many doctors call sleeping on your side the most beneficial for the spine, however, the wrong mattress or a bad pillow can turn a night's rest into torture. On a pillow that is too flat or deformed, the head usually falls back. In this position, the muscles and ligaments of the neck become very tense and the nose becomes stuffy. A mattress that is too hard can lead to numbness in your arms and legs at night, and tension in your knees and hip joints. To prevent possible problems when sleeping on your side, you should get the right mattress and pillow. The mattress should not be too hard, but provide good support for the lower back, shoulders, hips and knees, and the pillow should support the head in a natural position.

Sleeping on your side with your legs straight is considered beneficial for the muscles of the spine and gastrointestinal tract. In addition, this position has a good effect on the circulatory system. By the way, this pose is considered the most beneficial for pregnant women. Doctors say that when the expectant mother lies on her side, the baby inside feels much better than when a woman sleeps on her back (besides, in this position the load on the lumbar spine increases).

Speaking about the side position, it is worth focusing on several important points. When taking this position, you should not pull your legs towards you too much and take the so-called baby or fetal position

This position creates stress on the knee joints and spine. In addition, it is more difficult to breathe in the infant position because the lungs are compressed and cannot fully expand during inhalation. This ultimately leads to mild hypoxia.

Another danger of sleeping on your side is wrinkles. Lying on one side all night puts pressure on your face and makes your skin more prone to wrinkles.

Advice from somnologists for stomach sleepers

What should people do for whom sleeping on their stomach is the only comfortable position?

In this case, you need to place a pillow in the pelvic area - directly under the stomach. This helps relieve pressure on the spine. There should also be a pillow under your head, unless, of course, it strains your back too much. If you feel severe discomfort in your body, then try sleeping without it.

Any sleeping position has both its advantages and disadvantages. It is important to find the position that suits you. Consulting with a specialist will help you ensure the most comfortable night's rest!

Reasons why you can or cannot sleep on your stomach

According to doctors, sleeping on your stomach can lead to increased pressure on the reproductive system, which in turn negatively affects its functioning. For the fair sex, resting on the stomach can cause the formation of breast tumors, caused by strong and prolonged pressure on the mammary glands during sleep. Pressure on the chest can also cause breathing problems, which leads to oxygen deprivation, and upon awakening a person feels tired and exhausted.

In addition, sleeping on the stomach often causes morning swelling of the face and the appearance of nasolabial wrinkles. Among other things, sleeping on your stomach leads to blockage of the carotid artery and aggravates existing spinal diseases. Older adults who sleep on their stomachs at night have a significantly increased risk of stroke or premature death.

The habit of eating a large dinner before bed can not only lead to weight gain, but also provoke the development of gastritis or stomach ulcers, especially in people who prefer to sleep on their stomachs.

During pregnancy

Almost every expectant mother is interested in the answer to the question: “is it possible to sleep on your stomach during pregnancy?” In most cases, gynecologists recommend avoiding this position; moreover, in the later stages of pregnancy it is simply physiologically inconvenient and uncomfortable.

In the early stages of pregnancy, sleeping on your stomach is allowed, but the optimal and beneficial position during night rest is sleeping on your side, especially the left one. For convenience and comfort, you can use special pillows for pregnant women, which can later be used when feeding the baby.

Newborn babies

Controversy over the sleeping position of newborn babies has not subsided for more than 20 years. Most often, doctors agree that the most natural and safe position is sleeping on your tummy. This position will protect a child prone to vomiting or regurgitation from possible suffocation by vomit. Sleeping on your stomach helps strengthen the spinal muscles and form the correct position of the hip joints. The advantage of sleeping on the stomach is the fact that this position promotes the release of gases and improves intestinal function, the baby is not bothered by colic, his body does not swell, and his sleep is more sound and restful.

The main rule for a baby to sleep safely on his stomach is the absence of a pillow, an elastic mattress and well-made bed linen.

In children over 3 years old, prolonged sleep on their stomach can cause curvature of the spine. A little trick will help you avoid this - put a soft toy or a small pillow in your child’s bed, which he can place under his stomach while sleeping, thus relieving the load on the spine.

After caesarean section

For women who have had a caesarean section, doctors often recommend sleeping on their stomach, which strengthens the abdominal muscles and improves uterine contractions.

After childbirth

Those who like to sleep on their stomachs, who have denied themselves their favorite habit for 9 months, after giving birth experience an irresistible desire to lie on their stomachs and sleep. If after giving birth such a desire arises, you can make it come true with a clear conscience. Doctors encourage sleeping on the stomach after childbirth; such rest promotes contraction of the uterus.

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The habit of sleeping on your stomach and its negative consequences

Why can't you sleep on your stomach? Experts provide compelling arguments that

will force you to change position.

Lying on your stomach for a long time compresses the blood vessels. To increase blood flow, the heart muscle has to contract harder. Increased stress on the heart provokes an increase in blood pressure, heart rate, and enlargement of the heart muscle. People who constantly sleep on their stomachs may develop arrhythmia and hypertension.

A position that is comfortable for many leads to impaired pelvic circulation and causes sexual disorders:

in men, the quality of sperm deteriorates, prostatitis develops, and libido decreases;
In women, inflammatory foci form, sexual dysfunction and infertility occur.

Many people have to pay for the prone position on a pillow with daytime drowsiness and fatigue. In this position, the chest is compressed and breathing becomes difficult. Organs receive less oxygen, and overall activity decreases.

While sleeping on the stomach, the stomach, intestines, and abdominal muscles are under pressure throughout the body, and digestive problems begin.

For good health and recuperation, doctors recommend resting on your back or side. And when asked whether it is possible to sleep on your stomach during breastfeeding and pregnancy, the answer is negative. The threat of placental abruption increases due to lack of oxygen, pressure on the liver and intestines.

Advantages

Still, is it possible to sleep on your stomach? Is there really nothing good about this position at all? Oddly enough, there are experts who approve of this position. Among the advantages are the following:

Sleeping on your stomach greatly facilitates the removal of breakdown products and metabolism of antibiotics. There is no pressure on the kidneys, unlike the supine position

This is especially important for patients who suffer from diseases of the urinary system and are on an antibacterial course of therapy. Gastroenterologists do not prohibit the position on the stomach if the last meal took place 3 hours before bedtime. Otherwise, bile enzymes end up not only in the duodenum, where they are needed for digestion, but also in an empty stomach

As a result, bile begins to corrode its walls, which leads to ulcers. Orthopedists and chiropractic specialists approve of this position, since in it the sleeper self-straightens the intervertebral cartilage tissue. The position on the stomach is allowed for newborns. It helps get rid of intestinal colic and bloating. It is also recommended for adults for discomfort in the digestive system, bloating and gas formation. Women can sleep on their stomachs during menstruation and immediately after childbirth. This is a kind of massage for the uterus, which is located in the abdominal cavity. If a woman does not like to sleep in this position, she is advised to lie on her stomach for 20-30 minutes during the day. The position is recommended for women in labor after a caesarean section, but it is necessary to wear a postpartum bandage. This helps strengthen the abdominal muscles.

It is worth noting that even under the above circumstances, you cannot always sleep on your stomach. The list of benefits is too short. Most scientific researchers are convinced that this pose is harmful, so it is better to avoid it.

Condition of internal organs when sleeping on the stomach

The prone position is quite comfortable for many people. But some experts are convinced that sleeping on your stomach is strictly prohibited. This begs the question - why?

Doctors found an explanation for this phenomenon. They claim that while resting in this position, compression of the main arteries, which are located in the spinal canal, is observed. When a person is in this position, he has to turn his head to the side. Against this background, blood stops flowing to the brain.

If a person, in addition to this, suffers from atherosclerosis, and cholesterol plaques have accumulated in one of the arteries, then the gray cell structures have a high probability of remaining completely without oxygen. Such a process is naturally life-threatening.

Why is it harmful to still sleep on your stomach? During sleep, compression of the thoracic area is observed. Against this background, there is shortness of breath and disruption of oxygen supply to the body. It would seem that there is something wrong with this. But the next morning the person will feel exhausted, sleep-deprived and tired. At the same time, it is quite difficult to regain strength after such a dream.

The abdominal area also begins to suffer from the position on the stomach. The organs that are located inside it lose the ability to fully function.

Sexologists generally argue that because of this, a married couple has problems in their intimate life.

Some people will have another question: why does it hurt to lie on your stomach? And is it possible to somehow correct this situation? If it hurts to lie in this position, then the person may have diseases of the intestinal canal, the formation of tumors, poor posture and problems with the spinal canal. This means that this is a sign that you cannot do this.

Why can't children sleep at sunset?

It is believed that at sunset everything fades and, accordingly, vitality fades away. Our ancestors also had a negative attitude towards sleeping at sunset.

Reasons why you should not sleep at sunset:

It is believed that evil spirits awaken at this time. At the same time, a person is unprotected during sleep. Therefore, he may become ill from the intervention of otherworldly forces
Doctors still cannot definitively answer the question of why you shouldn’t go to bed at sunset. But they found that waking up late causes you to stay up until the middle of the night and then wake up again after 12 noon. This has a negative impact on well-being
Muslims believe that sleeping at sunset means wishing for death.
In medicine, sleeping at sunset is sometimes fatal in the elderly and infants
Children should not be put to bed at this time. If it's a nap, put him to bed earlier

Baby is sleeping

Why you can't sleep on your stomach Islam. Is it possible to sleep on your stomach?

Sleeping on your stomach is an undesirable (makruh) action condemned by the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. Companion Abu Dharr said: “Once I was lying on my stomach and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, passing by me, poked me with his foot and said: “Wa Junaytab! Thus lie the inhabitants of Fire” (Ibn Majah).

Also, in one hadith transmitted by Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, the following is said: “The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, saw a man sleeping on his stomach and said: “Indeed, such a dream is hateful to Allah and His Messenger” (At- Tirmidhi).

Ibn Qaisa Al-Ghaffari said: “When I was lying on my stomach in the mosque after Suhoor, one man moved my leg and said: “Such lying causes the wrath of the Almighty.” I turned around and saw the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him” (Abu Dawud, Ahmad ibn Hanbal).

Medical rationale

Sleeping on the stomach is recognized as harmful by modern scientists and doctors.

Sleeping on your stomach makes breathing difficult
When you lie on your stomach, you mechanically compress your chest. This leads to the fact that the lungs cannot fully expand and receive the necessary portion of fresh air.
When sleeping on your stomach, the blood supply to the brain is disrupted
When sleeping on your stomach, when your head is turned to the side, one of the vertebral arteries is blocked, so the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. And if the second artery is not functioning well, for example, it has an atherosclerotic plaque or is in a spasmodic state, then the blood flow through these vessels is completely blocked. Only the carotid arteries remain, which supply some portions of blood to the brain, but these vessels can also be changed, especially in older people.
Sleeping on your stomach can lead to stroke
Most often, cerebral strokes occur during sleep, at about 4-5 o'clock in the morning.

How much sleep should a pregnant woman sleep?

The recommended sleep duration for a pregnant woman is 9-10 hours per night. It is acceptable to sleep more than the specified time, but not less. Also, obstetricians and gynecologists recommend not to give up daytime rest - a regular afternoon nap will benefit the expectant mother. Lack of sleep, in turn, has an extremely negative impact on the condition of the expectant mother - appetite and mood worsen, and the body's defenses weaken. Considering that pregnancy itself leads to a decrease in immunity, and many women at this time are prone to depression, it is not an exaggeration to say that lack of sleep poses a real danger to the health of women and children.

Sleeping on your stomach during pregnancy

Many expectant mothers find themselves in an unpleasant situation when they need to wean themselves from their favorite position. And it is right. If compression of internal organs occurs while sleeping on the stomach, then imagine what it’s like for the baby. During the first trimester of pregnancy, the stomach still practically does not protrude, and the fetus is reliably protected by the pelvic bones.

The gynecologist will tell every pregnant woman in detail why you can’t sleep on your stomach and what the consequences of this are. And, most importantly, it will teach the expectant mother how to unlearn her favorite position. At least for a while. This is more of a psychological aspect - because you are so drawn to do what you shouldn’t do. If you firmly say “no” to yourself, then the desire on its own will disappear, the expectant mother will easily readjust and find comfort in other positions while sleeping.

Pros and cons of sleeping on your left side

The arrangement of human internal organs is designed in such a way that they are able to fully rest only if they are in a sagging position towards the left side of the body. This applies to the digestive organs, gallbladder and duodenum. In this position, food continues to flow into the intestines and the gallbladder works properly
Sleeping on your left side helps you fall asleep quickly. People suffering from insomnia are better off sleeping on their back or left side of the body.
For people with diseases of the right kidney or liver, sleeping on the left side of the body promotes rapid recovery. In this position, the organs are not compressed by the weight of the body, they fully rest and recover.
The correct flow of the lymphatic system occurs to the left side; therefore, in this position, lymph better transports all useful elements through the lymph nodes
The removal of toxins from the small intestine to the large intestine occurs according to the law of gravity. The location of the intestines is designed in such a way that when the body lies on the left side, toxins and harmful elements naturally pass into the large intestine and are safely eliminated from the body
When we sleep on the left side, the right lung and right hemisphere of the brain are loaded, thereby improving blood circulation. Proper blood circulation normalizes metabolism and improves glucose absorption. This leads to quality rest and a morning burst of energy. For the same reason, people with diabetes are advised to sleep on their left side.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system. When we sleep on our left side, the load on the heart increases and it has to work harder
Damage to the left kidney, lung

The benefits of sleeping on your stomach

It turns out that in some cases this position has a positive effect on the body. For example, people who have kidney diseases will only bring relief to themselves. After all, when we lie on our stomachs, there is no pressure on these organs. They are easy to operate and clean.

This pose is also useful for those who experience stomach pain or have digestive problems. There is only one “but” - you can’t go to bed like that right after eating. In this case, it will bring unpleasant sensations. And the biggest advantage of this body position is comfort. After all, it is on the stomach that most people quickly fall asleep and have pleasant dreams.

Lying on your stomach is useful when your back is stiff or your shoulders are tired after sitting at the computer in an uncomfortable position. Exactly - lie down a little, and not sleep like that all night. This way you will relieve stress from these parts of the body, you will be able to easily relax and get the desired satisfaction from this body position. And perhaps you won’t want to lie on your stomach at night.

Should we be afraid of an accidental coup?

Often pregnant women complain of insomnia and explain it not by anxiety or bad mood, but by the discomfort of the position. There is a strong psychological factor in this phenomenon: a woman, on a conscious level, is very afraid of turning over on her stomach accidentally in her sleep, and therefore sleeps with half her eyes open - fear does not allow her to relax and get quality rest. There is no need to be afraid of an accidental revolution.

As soon as the uterus begins to leave the pelvis, the woman’s body itself knows what is best for her and what is safer. Even if a woman is fast asleep, her brain continues to work, and the central nervous system vigilantly monitors all processes in the body. When a threat appears, the brain will immediately give a command - and the woman will take a comfortable position without realizing it.

Position on the stomach during pregnancy

Many expectant mothers are interested in the question: is it harmful for pregnant women to sleep on their stomach?
It is not only inconvenient to occupy such a position, but it is absolutely impossible. There are several reasons for this phenomenon. Firstly, there is strong compression of the internal organs. Not only do they experience stress during pregnancy due to compression of the large uterus, but sleeping on their stomach also plays a significant role.

In the first trimester, the uterine cavity does not yet bulge, and the unborn baby is reliably protected by the pelvic bones. Then the child begins to grow, as a result of which the uterus begins to bulge. Then the danger arises not only for the mother, but also for the fetus. The risk of developing pathological processes, oxygen deficiency and premature aging of the placenta increases significantly.

Sleeping on your stomach is strictly prohibited, so the expectant mother must wean herself off this position in advance.

After cesarean

Caesarean section is an abdominal operation. Based on this, it seems that lying on your stomach after such an intervention is definitely not possible. There is a seam there, which can come apart under the pressure of body weight. In fact, all of this is nothing more than groundless fears.

Many mothers want to return their tummy to its pre-pregnancy shape as quickly as possible so that it becomes nice and flat again. However, not everyone knows that sleeping on this part of the body can bring this moment closer. Doctors even recommend sleeping in this position after surgery. It not only helps improve your appearance, but is also useful for recovery after the birth of a child in general:

strengthens the abdominal muscles;

promotes contractile activity of the uterus.

When a woman who has recently given birth sleeps on her back or side, her abdominal muscles do not receive the stress they need. Therefore, the stomach tightens very slowly.

Let us emphasize once again that you should not be afraid to sleep on your stomach after surgical delivery. Moreover, it is even useful. This pose not only activates the process of restoring the previous waist circumference, but also, as mentioned above, strengthens the abdominal muscles.

If a woman has never slept in this position before pregnancy, she may have difficulty falling asleep. In this case, you should lie on your stomach during the day:

watching movies or TV shows;
reading books.

This is the simplest “exercise”, the implementation of which guarantees a positive result. However, if it is uncomfortable for you, you can always use a postoperative bandage.

There are many opinions around the question of whether sleeping on your stomach is harmful or not; doctors put forward whole theories. Whether there really is a threat to our health from sleeping on our stomachs is something we will try to figure out.

Here's what one doctor says about this:

Sleeping on your stomach is like a ticking time bomb. By taking the “lying on our stomach” position, we indicate that we are completely indifferent to our health. It turns out that this position has a bad effect on the functioning of the genital organs, and the cardiovascular system begins to work differently; with this position, we cause harm to our stomach, intestines and duodenum. During sleep, it is necessary that nothing interferes, not even clothes, so in addition it is better to sleep naked.

The harmful effects on the body accumulate and appear gradually, and in a hidden form. And so, when our body becomes very ill and the disease manifests itself, we cannot say with certainty what the cause of this or that disease is. The doctor prescribes us a whole bunch of all sorts of medications, we take them regularly, and the disease recedes for a while, but not for long, while we continue to sleep on our stomachs, and we are not dissuaded or forbidden from this habit.

Why can't you sleep on your stomach?

The position in which we lie on our stomach is the same position that threatens a person not to wake up. One such thought makes one feel uneasy. But, alas, this is so. In the usual position of a sleeping person, the person’s chest is straightened and nothing interferes with normal breathing, it is normal, because the lungs are filled with air without hindrance. The sleeping position on the stomach has the opposite effect. The flattened chest does not straighten out when sleeping on the stomach, which means the air that is in the compressed lungs is not renewed. For young people this does not pose a threat, but for older people there is something to think about, because each such dream may be the last.

The next reason why you can’t sleep on your stomach: when lying in this position, we turn our heads either to the left or to the right. Is not it? So, in this position, the common carotid artery is blocked, and if the second artery of a sleeping person functions poorly, and the sleeping person suffers from osteoporosis or atherosclerosis, then the person may also not wake up. At this moment, nutrition to the brain stops, and its work is slightly supported by the carotid artery. It is very important to convey this information to older people, because at this age the most common enemy is stroke.

Spanish researchers about the position of sleeping on the stomach.

Spanish researchers, after lengthy observations, came to the following conclusions:

1. Sleeping on your stomach is bad for your breasts. This position compresses the chest, while the skin wrinkles, and it is almost impossible to get rid of such wrinkles. This pose helps stretch the mammary glands. There is another interesting opinion of doctors - due to compression of the breast, the risk of developing breast cancer increases significantly, and the vast majority of scientists also support this theory.

2. People who have problems with posture and spine should not sleep on their stomach.

3. Sleeping on the stomach is one of the causes of sexual disorders in both sexes, because... During sleep, internal organs are compressed, including the bladder. As it turned out, it is generally not advisable for men to fall asleep in this position. The reason is simple - the risk of developing impotence increases.

4. Sleeping on your stomach does not have the best effect on the condition of your skin, its youth and freshness. When sleeping in this position, the face becomes covered with fine wrinkles, and constant sleep in this position contributes to the deepening of such wrinkles. Don’t be surprised if one day, looking in the mirror, you notice that a nasolabial fold has appeared on your beautiful face, and the corners of your mouth are “decorated” with vertical wrinkles.

On the other hand, sometimes lying on your stomach is simply necessary. As an example, abdominal pain is not felt so acutely when a person is in this position. It’s not for nothing that small children are often placed on their stomachs.

Why can't you sleep with wet hair?

Since childhood, grandmothers forbade their long-haired granddaughters to go to bed with wet hair. Superstitious people believe that water washes away a person's defenses. And at night, a living entity is more susceptible to the influence of evil spirits. Accordingly, you may get sick or weaken.

Practical reasons why you shouldn't wash your hair before bed:

Curls when wet become brittle and weak.
When a pillow gets wet, opportunistic organisms that can cause allergies multiply in it. This usually manifests itself as a rash on the skin
You risk catching a cold, as the air circulation in the room increases in the summer due to the open window
In the morning you will wake up with still damp curls and a terrible hairstyle that will have to be corrected using styling

Sleeping with wet hair