Comments on: Fetal heart rate decreased when lying flat??? http://www.babyheartbeatmonitor.co.uk/fetal-heart-rate-decreased-when-lying-flat.php Listen to your baby heartbeat from 8 weeks Tue, 22 May 2012 08:13:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: claudineintexas http://www.babyheartbeatmonitor.co.uk/fetal-heart-rate-decreased-when-lying-flat.php/comment-page-1#comment-3916 claudineintexas Fri, 18 Jun 2010 21:50:59 +0000 http://www.babyheartbeatmonitor.co.uk/fetal-heart-rate-decreased-when-lying-flat.php#comment-3916 Was the heart rate dropping below the normal range? How long did he/she have you lying on your back? At 22 weeks it is possible that the weight of the baby and uterus was inhibiting blood flow. This causes what is called "Supine Hypotension Syndrome". Your blood pressure drops and that causes reduced blood supply to the placenta, reducing oxygen to the baby. Circulation seems to be best when you lie on your left side. As long as your baby's heart rate was not dropping too low and if it returned to normal as soon as you got off of your back there is probably not a problem. However, the baby and uterus are going to continue to enlarge (obviously!) so watch out for this as your pregnancy progresses. It IS possible for your doctor to listen to the baby's heart beat with you lying on your side, or with a small pillow under your left side, creating a "tilt" to your body. I have done this before, the heart beat can still be listened to, and it gets easier as the baby gets bigger. Beware of the common labor practice of putting you on your back in bed. Sounds like your baby may not like this! Stay upright and mobile as long as possible, and if they insist on getting you in bed, insist on staying on your side. Make THEM work around you and your baby. Claudine Crews CPM, LM Was the heart rate dropping below the normal range? How long did he/she have you lying on your back?

At 22 weeks it is possible that the weight of the baby and uterus was inhibiting blood flow. This causes what is called "Supine Hypotension Syndrome". Your blood pressure drops and that causes reduced blood supply to the placenta, reducing oxygen to the baby. Circulation seems to be best when you lie on your left side. As long as your baby’s heart rate was not dropping too low and if it returned to normal as soon as you got off of your back there is probably not a problem. However, the baby and uterus are going to continue to enlarge (obviously!) so watch out for this as your pregnancy progresses. It IS possible for your doctor to listen to the baby’s heart beat with you lying on your side, or with a small pillow under your left side, creating a "tilt" to your body. I have done this before, the heart beat can still be listened to, and it gets easier as the baby gets bigger.

Beware of the common labor practice of putting you on your back in bed. Sounds like your baby may not like this! Stay upright and mobile as long as possible, and if they insist on getting you in bed, insist on staying on your side. Make THEM work around you and your baby.

Claudine Crews CPM, LM

]]> By: Pam http://www.babyheartbeatmonitor.co.uk/fetal-heart-rate-decreased-when-lying-flat.php/comment-page-1#comment-3917 Pam Fri, 18 Jun 2010 21:50:59 +0000 http://www.babyheartbeatmonitor.co.uk/fetal-heart-rate-decreased-when-lying-flat.php#comment-3917 It may be that the pressure of your uterus with the weight of the baby puts pressure on your aorta when you lie flat. This decreases your overall bloodflow to the heart and could possibly drop your baby's heart rate. Always rest on your left side. this increases fetal circulation and puts much less stress on the baby. Ask your doctor about the benefits to the baby of lying on your left side. He/she can explain it better for you. It may be that the pressure of your uterus with the weight of the baby puts pressure on your aorta when you lie flat. This decreases your overall bloodflow to the heart and could possibly drop your baby’s heart rate. Always rest on your left side. this increases fetal circulation and puts much less stress on the baby. Ask your doctor about the benefits to the baby of lying on your left side. He/she can explain it better for you.

]]> By: livinnfstfwrd http://www.babyheartbeatmonitor.co.uk/fetal-heart-rate-decreased-when-lying-flat.php/comment-page-1#comment-3918 livinnfstfwrd Fri, 18 Jun 2010 21:50:59 +0000 http://www.babyheartbeatmonitor.co.uk/fetal-heart-rate-decreased-when-lying-flat.php#comment-3918 Lay on your left side. When I was pregnant, I had high blood pressure and that is what they kept telling me. Not to lay on my back to ALWAYS lay / sleep on your left side. Lay on your left side. When I was pregnant, I had high blood pressure and that is what they kept telling me. Not to lay on my back to ALWAYS lay / sleep on your left side.

]]> By: suagr_britches http://www.babyheartbeatmonitor.co.uk/fetal-heart-rate-decreased-when-lying-flat.php/comment-page-1#comment-3919 suagr_britches Fri, 18 Jun 2010 21:50:59 +0000 http://www.babyheartbeatmonitor.co.uk/fetal-heart-rate-decreased-when-lying-flat.php#comment-3919 My child didn't like it when I turned on my side. His heart rate dropped also. It's just the baby's way of telling you "MOM I don't like that!" but it doesn't hurt them. Congrats to you by the way! My child didn’t like it when I turned on my side. His heart rate dropped also. It’s just the baby’s way of telling you "MOM I don’t like that!" but it doesn’t hurt them. Congrats to you by the way!

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