Advice for a front sleeper

[Billiecat]

I sleep on my front, which is apparently a bit wierd and generally frowned upon by chiropractors and the like. I have attempted in the past to try other positions, but its the only way I have been able to sleep for as long as I can remember.

So now I am 17 wks pregnant, my boobs and belly are expanding, and lying on my front is becoming increasingly uncomfy, but if I do manage to sleep on my side I wake up with pain in my shoulder and hip.

I've been firmly told that cutting out a hole in the mattress isn't an option, so was wondering if anyone had been through this, or had ideas that could help? I've thought about getting a pregnancy pillow but am a bit bewildered by the numerous options.

Thanks in advance

I slept on my side with one knee pulled up so I kind of rolled of over and used my knee to prop me up a bit rather than totally lie on my bump. It was the comfiest (sp?) I could get.

I'm a front sleeper. Now I tend to sleep three quarters on my front hugging a normal pillow with one knee drawn up. and when I need to switch sides the pillow comes with me. I wish I had a longer pillow so maybe try one which is full length.

Also a front sleeper and 17 weeks. Luckily not gettin uncomfy yet but I know it's coming. I have a long pregnancy pillow from last time I got in mothercare - brilliant thing. I kind of lie half on it, which allows me to very nearly be on my front, but not so much as can squash the bump.

I pretty much sleep in the recovery position. Try a normal pillow between your knees and/or a slim one under the side of your bump before buying anything special. Also review what pillows you have under your head - I bought a cheap memory foam one which seems to give me less neck pain.

I changed to two pillows from one and also had a pillow to wrap my legs around.

But still I didn't sleep very well. I was so looking forward to going to sleep on my front post birth then had an EMCS and still couldn't do it!

Like Ivana I pretty much sleep in the recovery position - I had a memory foam mattress that let me pretty much sleep pretty much on my front until I was 30 odd weeks (propped up with a couple of cushions by the end)

Do you have a soft mattress? Could you get a nice, thick memory foam topper?

Goodness.. a few too many pretty muches there... I'll never be an editor.

I'm usually a front sleeper, now (at 21wks), I sort of tip to one side with that knee up to hold me there. It's not too bad, but I also think that my enormous boobs stop me putting too much pressure from my upper body on the developing bump. It has only just started to get in the way though.

I slept with a pillow under my bump/ half on front and had no pillows for my head, I found this the most comfortable. This was the only position or on left side I could handle by the end, all other positions were just so painful.

Front sleeper here and 37 weeks... I use three pillows, two of which in a triangle at the top so whichever side I can sleep on I have a pillow that runs from my head down to the top of my bump. The third pillow is between my legs so that hips are supported. When I change sides (do this my rolling bump under you rather than over the top) I only need to take the leg pillow with me.

My bump tells me if he is not comfortable with the position...

Incidentally my mum is also a front sleeper and whilst pregnant with me she continued to sleep on her front until 38 weeks!

Can't wait to go back properly into my front.

Only 9 weeks with first so not encountered this problem yet but did some research in anticipation. Check this out, might be the answer.

holo-lilo.com/

It's a lilo with a hole in the middle for bump.

I feel your pain- after 30 odd years of sleeping prone- I had to stop lying on my front when just about 6-8 weeks pregnant because my boobs were too sore.

I've never liked side lying, so I got used to lying on my back until about 18-20 weeks when I had to pack that in and make myself side-lie. Now I kind of manage, I bought a big very long U shaped pillow that one half goes down my back the other side under my bump and I kind of hug it with an arm and leg too so I'm leaning quite far over. So I'm leaning quite far over. You don't have to move the pillow to change sides and its quite good for sitting upright too, for reading (and I think it will be handy for feeding later).

I have tried making a big pile of pillows with a space for my bump so I could lie on my front. It wasn't comfy though and now my bump is so big so it still reaches the bottom of the hole and feels squished.

It's a tough one!

Hi guys, thanks ever so much for all the suggestions, I shall start trying some tonight!

And I absolutely love the lilo. I'm so getting me one of those

I remember how blissful it was lying on my front again after my daughter was born... then 2 days later my milk came in. It was nice while it lasted.