Why Back Sleeping During Pregnancy May Be a Concern (And How to Sleep Safer)

Pregnancy is an incredible journey full of excitement, anticipation and change. But as your body grows and shifts, you may find old sleeping positions just don’t feel right any more. If you’re starting to worry about sleeping on your back in the third trimester, you’re not alone and there’s good reason to switch your sleep position with some gentle help.

What’s happening with your body down under

By the time you reach around 28 weeks (about the start of the third trimester) your bump is growing and your internal landscape is changing. In Australia, health experts now say that sleeping flat on your back can put pressure on major blood vessels, reducing the blood flow and oxygen supply to the baby (saferbaby.org.au).

The key message from programs like the Australian “Sleep On Your Side” campaign: from 28 weeks onwards, aim to settle into sleep on your side. If you wake on your back, it’s okay, just gently roll back onto your side.

Why this matters for Aussie mums

Here in Australia:

Research by Stillbirth Centre for Research Excellence shows that pregnant women who go to sleep on their side after 28 weeks can halve the risk of late stillbirth compared to those going to sleep on their back.
The Australian health authority notes that going to sleep on your side is a modifiable risk factor meaning you can take steps now to reduce potential risk.
While many mums sleep in whatever position feels best earlier in pregnancy, as the bump grows, side sleeping becomes the safest and most comfortable option. (Raising Children Network)

The trouble with back sleeping and your comfort

Beyond safety, sleeping on your back in later pregnancy is often simply uncomfortable. You might notice:

Your hips and lower back ache because your spine isn’t aligned.
Your belly feels heavy or flattened, putting pressure where you don’t want it.
You wake up multiple times or shift positions many times, because your body is trying to adjust.
When you combine discomfort with the research-backed advice about side sleeping, you start to see why making the switch is both smart and kind to your body.

How to make the move to side sleeping feel natural

Changing your sleep position doesn’t have to be hard. Here are gentle, Aussie-friendly tips:

Start each rest on your side. Whether it’s the evening or a daytime nap, ease into side-sleeping from 28 weeks onwards.
Support your belly and back. A supportive pregnancy pillow helps take the strain off your hips and keeps your spine neutral.
Place a pillow between your knees — it helps align your hips and reduces lower-back pain.
Don’t panic if you wake on your back — simply roll back to your side when you notice. That’s perfectly normal.
Use a pregnancy pillow that keeps you in position — this is key for staying comfortable and safe through the night.

How the ComfyBump Pregnancy Pillow helps prevent back sleeping

At ComfyBump, we designed our pillow specifically for the real-life struggles of Aussie mums who find themselves rolling onto their backs during sleep without even realising it.

Here’s how the ComfyBump Pregnancy Pillow helps:

💤 Stabilising support: Its ergonomic shape hugs your body from front to back, creating gentle barriers that make it harder to roll flat on your back while you sleep.
🤰 Adjustable firmness: You can customise the firmness to match your stage of pregnancy, firmer for more structure, softer for a gentle cradle.
🌙 Natural side-sleep cue: The pillow subtly guides you back into a safe side-sleeping position if you start to shift.
☁️ All-night comfort: With support along your belly, hips, and spine, you stay balanced and your body relaxes into the side-sleeping position more naturally.

Many Aussie mums tell us that after using ComfyBump, they wake up feeling reassured knowing the pillow physically keeps them from rolling onto their back and helps them stay comfortably supported all night long.

Final thoughts

Switching to side sleeping isn’t about fear, it’s about choosing comfort, support and care for you and your baby. The research in Australia shows it matters; your body also tells the story.

So take a moment tonight: roll onto your side, let your ComfyBump cradle you in place, and rest easy knowing you’re doing something gentle and smart for your body’s journey.

💛 You’re doing an amazing job, mama. Let’s make sure you rest as beautifully as you’re growing.