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Anyone make the transition from stomach to back sleeping?

post #1 of 9
1/14/11 at 8:41am
Thread Starter 
How did you train yourself? Ever get to the sleep where you are literally passed out? If I start out on my back, I dont get into the deep sleep. During the night, I might have my mind awaken and then turn onto the back but I dont get into that deep, dream state. Also, I alternate between hands to the side, hands across the chest and hands on top of the hips - never can seem to get totally comfortable. Even tried a down pillow for tummy sleeping and then changing to a tempur pedic contour pillow for back and still dont get that deep sleep (though neck feels better cradled in the tempur pedic while on the back).
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post #2 of 9
1/14/11 at 8:46am
Do you have back problems or is your bed sagging? It's hard to sleep on your back if that is the case.

You could try putting a rolled pillow under your knees while on your back; this will flex your lumbar spine a bit and help you relax.
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post #3 of 9
1/14/11 at 8:51am
Thread Starter 
Only a day or so lately did I have pain in the lower back area, curvature and more to the sides. Went away after a few days. Sleeping on back helps, and I have a one year old tempur pedic mattress. Sleeping on tummy, I use a down pillow. I just cant get to the deep sleep stage on my back but I guess I just gotta try, just like having to get used to doing situps when you have gone years without doing them????
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post #4 of 9
1/14/11 at 9:04am
I used to always sleep on my side in a fetal position and sometimes on my stomach. Last year I switched to sleeping on my back. It wasn't easy at first, but I started listening to some self-hypnosis CDs before bed and it helped. Especially since I had earbuds in my ears, it was more comfortable sleeping on my back. Plus the hypnosis CDs got me extremely relaxed so that I wasn't tossing and turning so much.

On of the reasons I had trouble sleeping on my back was that I work nights and often when I get to sleep, the sun comes through the blinds shortly after. I was using those little satin sleep goggle things for a while, but it didn't really keep out the sunlight that well. I found it best to just take a black t- shirt, roll it up and make a headband to put over my eyes, tucking the ends between my head and pillow-- it keeps the sun out, and helps me stay sleeping on my back. You might try it. I also use a Tempur Pedic Symphony pillow-- it's shaped almost like a standard pillow, but made of Tempur Pedic foam. You can sleep in any position with it.

Good luck.
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post #5 of 9
1/14/11 at 9:06am
It's probably just an adjustment phase...some people (me included) just don't like back sleeping.

I find it helps when I can be almost fully on my back, but I have something (like a body pillow) to sort of lean against. This gives somewhat of a side sleeping sensation, while allowing benefits of back sleeping. This also allows me to have my face sideways on the pillow, which is critical for me. My face inexplicably tenses when I lay with my face straight up, but I'm totally relaxed when I'm facing sideways. No idea why.
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post #6 of 9
1/14/11 at 9:43am
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Hmmm..maybe it is instinctive to sleep on ones stomach. I know I almost always do. Protecting the most vulnerable areas while unaware and all that..
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post #7 of 9
1/14/11 at 11:41am
I sleep them all. Up, down, side. No problems except when my pjs get all wrapped around my torso because of the rolling around. And the times when I fall asleep on an arm and it goes numb. That's a bummer.
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post #8 of 9
1/14/11 at 4:20pm
I almost always awaken on my back, and find I sleep the most comfortably when I am on my back.
However, I can almost never fall asleep lying on my back (even though I feel very comfortable), as I just think too much in this position. I find I can lie awake for hours trhying to fall alseep on my back!
I have to be really stagger-to-the-bed tired or I have to have taken a sleeping pill to float off on my back.
It's pretty frustrating, as I know it's the 'best' and healthiest way to sleep.
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post #9 of 9
1/15/11 at 5:03am
I love sleeping on my tummy - bad for the skin and gives you puffy eyes though. However I have often slept on my back to ease a sore lower back or hips and when I've got a cold or sinus - tummy sleeping is useless.
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Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › General Discussion › Off topic › Anyone make the transition from stomach to back sleeping?