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Pregnancy

which side to lie on in bed?

20 replies

albertson · 25/02/2007 18:22

Have read in terrifying pregnancy manuals that you MUST lie on your right side during pregnancy to maintain good blood flow to the foetus. But I'm far, far more comfortable on my right, had the night from hell yesterday trying to get comfy until I swapped with dp when I finally fell asleep about 5am. Does it really matter that much which side you lie on? thank you!

OP posts:

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Frenchsmallfry · 25/02/2007 19:12

It is in later pregnancy when the weight of baby and bump adds pressure to the main blood vessel running down the right of your body, that you may become breathless. This is when they advise you to sleep on your LEFT, however I sleep on my back normally and now at 28weeks I just tuck a pillow under my right side so that I am not directly on my back or pressing on my rght side. Most pg ladies spend all night trying to get comfy don't they? so the risk of staying in one posistion for too long must be small. Personally I haven't heard of a problem for the feotus but I'm sure someone else will know.

lulumama · 25/02/2007 19:14

left side is preferable. but as long as you do not lie flat on your back in late pregnancy, you will be fine....as the weight of baby and uterus etc if you lay flat on your back can actually make you feel dizzy by restricting blood flow to you!

so either side,left if you can

rosylonginglily · 25/02/2007 19:36

I'm instinctively more comfortable on my left so that's handy!
I had no idea about the back thing until 2nd pregnancy I was having a checkup at hospital. I was lying flat on my back with monitor strapped on, the mw left the room, I started to black out I was almost unconscious -lucky dh was there!!! the monitor showed a dip in my heart rate and baby's so I had to stay in overnight for observation.
Can't believe we are not generally told this can happen and that the mw let me lie flat on my back!

albertson · 25/02/2007 20:39

Thank You! Mistyped my question, I meant to say I read you MUST lie on left, but I can only get comfy on right. So long as the baby isn't being harmed I can't see the harm, I would have thought I would notice if it made me breathless. Will try French's tip of a pillow under right side.

OP posts:

LUCIA22 · 27/02/2007 13:50

I am 30+3 and find that my heartburn is worse if I sleep on my right side due to the way your stomach lies so left is preferable but then I get a really strong pain in my hip after a while. I have been alternating between the left and on my back but didnt realise that I shouldnt be sleeping on my back. Havent noticed any probs so far but you have got me worried now.

Piffle · 27/02/2007 15:21

at some point it becomes a no brainer
You sleep on whatever side you are able to get comfy with...
no mean feat rolling over in bed though esp with the mound of pillows you need

justbeme · 27/02/2007 15:29

I have one of those memory foam mattresses and at 22w still sleep on my back - do you reckon that soonish i should stop?

Bubbaloo · 27/02/2007 15:31

Have no idea how but at 32 weeks I'm still sleeping on my tummy sometimes,although it's mainly on my side.

rosylonginglily · 28/02/2007 02:03

Lucia When I had the check up I was 40 weeks so very heavy uterus and was lying totally flat with no pillow or slope behind me. Sorry I worried you, listen to your body. I know lots of people sleep on their backs with cushions propping them up a bit to get comfortable and they have no problems at all.

Violette · 28/02/2007 14:04

Hi there
I've found all the differing advice over which side to sleep on baffling...I generally alternate between left and right ...not difficult to do when having to get up and pee a zillion times a night anyway!

On another note, does anyone else suffer from aching hips when sleeping on one side or other? I'm 22 weeks and normal weight but can't believe that lying on one side is leaving a painful red mark on my hip...any tips?

bumperlicious · 28/02/2007 19:30

I would just like to sleep at all so not being too fussy! Violette, I get really bad pressure pain from my hip and cramp from hip to calf when lying on my right, which is a pain because it is my preferred side. No tips though I'm afraid. I'm surviving on about 5 hours sleep a night on average.

Biglips · 28/02/2007 19:33

i slept on my left side as i was comfy but once i got toward the end of the pg i couldnt even lie on my right side at all or otherwise i was feeling nausea - i dont know why is that?

Sleepflower · 28/02/2007 20:11

I asked midwife about this and she said that sleeping position (on back or either side) is not really a problem until baby starts to get very big (she said at about 36 weeks but I guess that it depends on the individual baby).

LUCIA22 · 01/03/2007 13:00

I am getting the aching hips too, on both sides which is why I need to keep alternating how I lie. It gets really painful at times. I can only presume that it is because I am lying in the same position for a long time which I guess you wouldnt normally do. Turning over is such a performance that I only do it when the pain gets too bad.

beansontoast · 01/03/2007 13:04

oh frick!

id forgotten all that 'can never get comfy' stuff about pregnancy.

goldenpeach · 01/03/2007 13:09

I was told not to sleep on back after week 28 (I'm 34 weeks now) as it affects blood/oxygen delivery to your organs because the bump squashes you. Left side is best, but right is ok if you want a change, although my little girl kicks if I stay on the right side for long. To turn, use your elbows and arms, don't drag your bum on the bed. If you are really uncomfortable use two cushions under the head, one under the breasts and bump and one or two in between the legs. I just use a fat one under my head and one in between my bent legs. If I stretch a leg on the other side I get pain in the front as it puts some stress on your front. I have a good mattress and sometimes I do lie on my back for a short while, but try not to linger there. Still using Vicks vaporub under my nose, it helps me breathe.

phdlife · 01/03/2007 13:29

Lucia22 I had the bad aching hips too - we went and bought a cheap soft foam mattress to put on top of old hard futon and it has made all the difference.

phdlife · 01/03/2007 13:34

Having said that I was first checked out by a maternity physio (arranged through my mw) to make sure hips were not misaligned. She gave me exercises but really the issue was a too-hard bed.

LUCIA22 · 01/03/2007 13:36

We have a spare duvet on top of the mattress which makes the bed softer but still get the pains. I have become resigned to it now. MW tells me that sleepless nights now are natures way of preparing you for them when LO is born!!

phdlife · 01/03/2007 13:41

Yes mine said that too - even when it was obnoxious noisy neighbour keeping me awake!

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