Day 20 – Laying on your back
Avoid laying on your back after the 1st trimester. Laying in supine causes the uterus to compress the inferior vena cava which returns blood from your legs to your heart.
Signs of compression include:
- Pallor
- Tachycardia (early sign, fast beat)
- Bradycardia (very late sign, slow beat)
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Hypotension
- Dizziness
If you find yourself laying on your side say, when you’re sleeping, simply roll to one side or the other.
Exercising on your back after the first trimester is a no-no. So look for alternatives where you lay at a 45 degree angle, sit up right, stand, or kneel on hands and knees.