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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Sleeping on my back - 2nd trimester

17 replies

Thaleia · 30/12/2011 11:57

Hi,

I've just read that it's not safe to sleep on my back ... and I shouldn't have done it since week 16! Well, 7 weeks too late for that.

Is it really dangerous of would one normally wake up if the baby doesn't get enough oxygen? Is everybody really sleeping on their (left hand) side?

I'm still very very comfortable sleeping on my back and never had any problems feeling dizzy.

Thanks, Thali

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knitterati · 30/12/2011 15:15

The advice I got from my MW was:

don't worry too much about sleeping positions until 3rd trimester
as long as you're getting a decent amount sleep don't worry.
in 3rd tri you can use pillows to lilt you on to your left side slightly (I bought myself a v comfy dream genii)
you won't hurt the baby by sleeping on your back; you're more likely to feel dizzy/lightheaded on your back as it's your blood supply the placenta will be restricting, but baby will be fine.

HTH

MrsHuxtable · 30/12/2011 15:33

I'm 34 weeks and am trying to sleep on my left. However, I mostly sleep oon my right or my back. I can't change it. It's what I'm most comfortable with. I have to pee constantly sleeping on my left. Am using the dream genii pillow and everything. I have decided not to worry.

I wonder how many pregnant women in the world really only sleep on their left anyway...

MrsCog · 30/12/2011 15:52

I'm 30 weeks and have struggled as I'm a back sleeper, my MW said not to worry until after 20 weeks, especially if I wasn't feeling dizzy etc. She did suggest just putting a pillow under my right hip, just to put a bit of tilt on, and this was fine for a while. Since about 23/24 weeks I've been trying v hard to sleep on my left side (although my right is comfier and I'm really suffering with neck and shoulder pain :( ) and have a long support pillow which does definitely help - although makes me super hot! Try not to worry too much at 16 weeks though - just focus on getting some great sleep in while you can!

melliebobs · 30/12/2011 16:59

It's whatever works and is comfortable for you. I'm almost 33 weeks and woke up this morning on my front. I was comfy baby was wriggling. So what?! I fall asleep easier on my right side too

AKP79 · 30/12/2011 17:09

I've panicked about this too as I'm a back and front sleeper. Am 37+5 now and have finally mastered sleeping on my left side with the help of a dream genii and by sleeping on top of a double duvet folder over... I find it takes the pressure off my hip bone.

My baby is breech though and one worry I've had is whether sleeping on my back until around 33 weeks has contributed to baby's position. This is purely my theory though and I don't think there's any medical evidence to back it up.

thejoanwilder · 30/12/2011 17:49

I had to give up worrying about this. My preferred position is on my back (usually with my kindle still in my hand ). If I sleep on my left, I am facing DH, which I can't stand, particularly if he's facing me too. Pillows barricading me into one position help, but I just settle for starting off on my left, and then nearly always waking up on my back.

heliumballoon · 30/12/2011 17:59

I have a roaring cough - have had for five long ghastly weeks- and simply cannot sleep on my side for coughing (so bad I twisted a rib- ouch). I really really can only sleep in two hour bursts on my back or sitting up. Both are uncomfortable and lead to cramps and I know not ideal according to the books, but it's that or nothing. As you can imagine I am worried but MWs and GPs tell me not to worry and that baby will take oxygen first so it is me who suffers and it is more important that I get some kind of rest than fret about positions.I do the slight wedge under one hip thing too. Am 35 weeks btw.

helgaw99 · 30/12/2011 18:10

I'm 29 weeks and consistently wake up on my back. My hips and back are so sore that I actually get the most relief in my back as sleeping on either side hurts after a while. I do lie on a long body pillow which tilts me a bit to my left, this will have to do for now, I just need to sleep however I can!

smk84 · 02/01/2012 14:00

this is very interesting ! I am 17 weeks and keep waking up on my back. Not tried a pillow yet and just looked on the dream genie website and it says "It encourages you to lie on your left side which is the best position for mother and baby.. and gently prevents you from rolling on to your back during your sleep (Which can restrict bloodflow to your baby)." Has anyone else had advice from their midwife? I would think if it was that serious everyone would be told about it, and this is my second pregnancy, have seen loads of MWs and no-one has ever mentioned it !!

PamBeesly · 02/01/2012 16:01

I'm almost 33 weeks and this sleeping on your left is new information for me, I of course knew that sleeping on your back after 20 weeks was inadvisable due to the weight on the vena cava and potential for a lack of oxegen for baby but I had no idea I was supposed to be sleeping on my left. My baby generally lies on the left so its much more comfortable for me to sleep on my right (I can feel him on the left and I'm all lob sided too) then again at this stage I'm thankful for any sleep. I can't wait to be able to sleep on my stomach again

horseynewmum · 02/01/2012 17:23

I cant sleep on my left it is just uncomfortable. I go to sleep on my right and I can wake up anywhere front, back, left side or even turned myself round in bed. Surely getting sleep is more important then what postion

Original poster

Thaleia · 02/01/2012 17:48

I've tried to sleep on the left hand side for the last 2 nights and I now feel miserable and super tired. I also decided not to worry any more. I think MrsHuxtable nailed it - how many women actually know that and how many healthy baby are born anyway!

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Enfyshedd · 02/01/2012 19:12

19+1 now, and every time I wake up, I've turned onto my left and my shoulder is hurting a lot. I've slept mainly on my right most of my life and I don't think it's going to change in a hurry. DP is quite taken with the fact that by sleeping on my right, I cuddle up to him and he has bump pressed against the small of his back :o

zebras · 02/01/2012 20:09

Last time around I spoke to my midwife who suggested that as lying on my side was causing so much pain couldn't sleep, I could sleep on my back making sure that I sleep with loads of pillows propping me up (i.e. under my shoulders) - took a bit of getting used to but it did help and baby was fine.

AnotherBloominChristmastance · 02/01/2012 20:57

sleeping positions I sleep on my right, i always have and can't get used to my left.

Jennlx · 03/01/2012 15:03

www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/jun/14/pregnant-women-sleep-left-stillbirth

I read this report a couple of months ago and have struggled to sleep properly since! I can't wait for baby to be out so I can go back to back-sleeping!!

danceswithyarn · 03/01/2012 15:32

It's not restricting to the baby. It's restricting to you.

If you're flat, you could be in a position where the baby sits on your inferior vena cava (Big vein at the back of your belly, on the right side of your aorta. The artery is less squashable, so less affected. That means you can restrict the blood getting back to your heart, and as a poster above has said, get dizzy/lightheaded. The reason they suggest lying on your left is to keep the baby even further away from the vessels, but either side would work. (It's also why they tilt the table for c-sections)

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