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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Please tell me about sleeping positions

22 replies

mpops · 07/05/2011 12:14

Hello! I'm on my 19th week and read I should be sleeping on my left-hand side from now on. I usually do but I do move around during the night - and now I read that I tend to wake up every hour in a panic that I'm in the wrong position and going to kill the baby. And I keep getting leg cramps too! My sleep is terrible as a result and it's driving me a bit mad. So how important is the sleeping on the left-hand side thing? If I find myself sleeping on my back, should I switch immediately? Why does no-one tell you about these things!

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Wigeon · 07/05/2011 12:19

Sleeping on your left is absolutely nothing to do with the health of the baby as far as I'm aware - it's to do with encouraging your baby to be in the best position for labour (head down, with its back on your left hand side).

More info here.

I don't know if there's any scientific evidence that sleeping on your left encourages this, although I've heard it a lot. My yoga teacher was telling the class that she'd been on some training recently where the facilitator had said there is no evidence that sleeping on your left is particularly helpful, but I don't know where there's any authoratitive evidence either for or against it.

But even proponents of sleeping on your left say that you mustn't panic if you wake up on your right, or back! You definitely aren't killing your baby!

Here's some information on leg cramps - poor you.

Wigeon · 07/05/2011 12:21

More info here about sleeping on your left encouraging blood flow to the baby, and other benefits. But again, definitely not a reason to stress if you wake up on your right or back. After all, how on earth are you going to prevent your body moving while you are asleep?

jasmine51 · 07/05/2011 14:57

You can sleep in any position that is comfortable at your stage. Make the most of being able to sleep on your back/ tummy etc. You will find that as you get bigger you will not be able to sleep on your back for long as the weight of your bump squashes the main vein that returns blood from your lower body so you will get a thumpy head, numb arms etc. However your body is aware of this and will wake you up if you do end up on your back - happens to me all the time. You might also find that sleeping on your right has the same effect....but again your body knows best and will let you know pretty quickly if it needs you to move.
The left side thing is about optimal birth positioning as others have said but dont get hung up on it...getting a good nights sleep is going to get more important and you cant harm your baby by not being on your left.

4pudding · 07/05/2011 19:12

I swap sides all through the night!

Have a fantastic pillow from Gro Group which is like a long sausage shape which sleep slightly leaning my bump into for support and it's long enough to go between my thighs too. Also it's filled with polystyrene so really light which is fab as I have to move it over me every time I turn over.

My leg cramps stopped about 30 weeks- no idea why though!

airhostess · 07/05/2011 19:23

I'm 31+4 and I have slept in a semi sitting up position for a few months now as the baby fidgets like crazy when I'm on either side that it's just easier this way,using four pillows. Imagine led on sunbed reading a book and you will get the picture. x

Borisneedsahaircut · 07/05/2011 19:25

Oh Gosh, don't believe it! There s no way all us pregnant ladies would be able to stay in one position all night. Certainly nothing to worry about at 19 weeks. I just stick a cushion in between my legs and sleep on my side.

sleepybump · 07/05/2011 19:33

Hi, I'm 17 weeks and exactly the same with the leg cramps - They started about a week ago and are woken up by the pain of them setting in and are excrutiatingly painful if they 'catch'. I've been waking up multiple times a night with them (but only had two major painful ones so far that left me hobbling painfully the next day)... just having to try to 'breath & relax' through them (or gently stand and let the blood flow back in) and hope I fall back to sleep at the moment. The doctor gave me some leg stretches to do and is giving me a couple of extra blood tests (anemia and apparently liver problems can be a cause, not likely but since I had these cramps once every 6months or so before now she thought it best to check).

As for positions, I found sleeping on my right, so my heart is at the top of my body and has less difficulty pumping blood out into my legs etc. from that position, works much better than sleeping on my left, but isnt fool-proof. Had a good nights sleep last night having taking a 15 minute walk before bed and using my pillows in a cheese-weg type shape to keep the top of my body slightly above my legs (I still slept mostly on my right - it was not a high cheese wedge by any-means) . Trying it again tonight so hopefully it will work again.

I'm not sure that's of any use, but at least you know I'm totally sympathising with you!

Borisneedsahaircut · 07/05/2011 19:36

Sleepy are you sure its just leg cramps? Is there any swelling there or redness?

sleepybump · 07/05/2011 20:38

no swelling or redness - went to the gp just in case and she didnt think it was anything other than normal cramps triggered by something pregnancy related

Oddly though the gp didnt actually ask about any swelling etc. - that would be DVT related wouldn't it?

Borisneedsahaircut · 07/05/2011 20:40

Yes, is it both legs or one? If GP looked at it hopefully its fine. Did she palpate it?

sleepybump · 07/05/2011 20:45

the cramp was always my right leg, but 2 days ago it started in my left too. only one has been 'cramped' at a time though - though saying that but both legs feel 'tight' when I wake up sometimes.

sleepybump · 07/05/2011 20:48

and to the other Q - im not sure what you mean by palpate, but she didnt do much than look at the back of my calf where it catches so I could show here where and asked me if it hurt when she poked it (which it didn't)

IloveJackWhite · 07/05/2011 20:49

I always thought left is optimal but difficult in practice. Dreamgenii pillow does help to encourage you onto left though. Unfortunately no help for leg cramps.

davidtennantsmistress · 07/05/2011 20:50

leg cramps can be a sign of low salt I thought? I got them when PG with ds - and would literally suck the salt off the ready salted crisps to get my 'fix' (craving at the time) MW said the two things were related - not sure if that's right as was a little nieve.

ref the position things, I go from left to right to left back right whatevers comfy go for I say.

cowboylover · 07/05/2011 23:44

I asked my MW about the sleeping position thing as find sleeping on my left very uncomfortable due to a old head injury and she said its fine to sleep how ever you can get comfortable and as other posters have mentioned you will wake up if its not good for either you or baby.

jasmine51 · 08/05/2011 08:56

Cramps can be low salt and or low potassium. Eat a few bananas and have a salty snack to see if it helps. Oh and I think tonic water and bitter lemon type drinks can give you cramps because of the quinine but dont quote me on that.

lolajane2009 · 08/05/2011 11:01

I tend to move a lot when sleeping and wake a few times in the night, in a different position every time. My baby moves with my position and is always quite skilled at getting out of the way so he doesnt get squished.

WiiUnfit · 08/05/2011 11:41

Be careful with the quinine intake, it does reduce cramps but too much can be dangerous (I can't remember why though, could be something to do with baby's nervous system iirc?)

mpops try increasing your potassium & sodium intake slightly, a banana & a bit of (extra) salt on a meal. I find this helps me with the cramp issue, as does having a naughty fast food treat once a week e.g. kfc / mcdonalds / similar. Try resting with your legs higher than your heart for about an hour a day, helps get the blood flowing better apparently.

At 19 weeks you're fine to sleep however you like AFAIK, you aren't going to kill your baby. :)

I'm 32+5 & have to switch sides every hour or so because I find the leg I'm lying on goes numb! I also sometimes find that sleeping on my left side makes me breathless which isn't nice either!

MainlyMaynie · 08/05/2011 12:46

I have to switch several times during the night due to getting numb too, even though I'm using a Dream Genii pillow. I went through a period of being unable to sleep on my left due to SPD and was told that it wasn't a problem - it helps but you're not going to do any damage sleeping on your right. Lying on your back can be a real problem, but as everyone says you will know if it is for you. I rarely sleep on my back but woke up on my back gasping for breath the other night!

lolajane2009 · 08/05/2011 12:51

too much quinine makes you bruise easily and makes bruising spread if you have it in large quantities. i remember a story about in on All Saints tv programme.

TallulahBetty · 08/05/2011 17:30

I'm nearly 12 weeks ans always sleep on my tummy. Dreading the day when I won't be able to do this! I'm trying to train myself to get used to other positions but it's hard.

sleepybump · 08/05/2011 21:19

Quinine taken in the wrong doses can cause a number of really unpleasant things, and if I recall correctly it used to be thought of as an effective way to administer abortions (not sure how much that's true as pregnant women can take it in if they get malaria)

some info on leg cramp treatments (incl quinine):
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/legcrampsunknowncause/Pages/Treatment.aspx
(though it doesn't seem to have any particular reference to those caused by pregnancy!)
x

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