Front sleepers - help!!!

[phoenixrose314]

I am 14 weeks pg today, first baby, all new to me! All very exciting (and maybe a bit scary) so far and a distinct bump starting to form now, which is great as I have had a wee bit of bump envy for the last 2 weeks, ever since we began telling people we were expecting.

Only problem is, I am a front sleeper. I sleep on my stomach, head turned to one side, arms and hands tucked under my body. Like a plank. Yes I know it's bad for posture blah blah blah but I have slept that way since I was a very small girl and habits are hard to kill! I have been trying to sleep on my side but I get very uncomfortable and often have shoulder ache or back ache the next morning. As my bump is getting bigger it's just getting more and more difficult to get comfortable... does anyone have a solution?? I can't be the only front sleeper out there!!

I have the same problem. I'm only 9 1/2 weeks so not a problem yet but have wondered the same. I have found it helps if I try and sleep on my side and put a pillow under my top leg - ie. the leg that you're lying on straight on the bed and the leg that's touching the duvet bent resting on the pillow. It sort of stops you rolling over which I would otherwise find difficult not to do when I'm asleep, even if I start off with the best intentions. I have also considered buying one of those special pregnancy pillows. There seem to be all sorts of different shapes to choose from - www.pregnancypillow.co.uk/

They are also really handy if you have a bad back or have ended up a bit twisted. I'm sure, like me, you get lots of stiff neck and pain between your shoulder blades from sleeping like this!

I'm also a front sleeper but as the bump grows you'll find that sleeping on your front becomes impossible. As you progress in pregnancy you'll be advised to sleep on your left hand-side to promote blood flow to the baby so my advice is the same as Havingkittens - get yourself a pregnancy pillow and some extra cushions and hope for the best! I can't wait to be back on my front as sleeping on my side just kills my hip no matter what I do (partly because bed is quite hard). Good luck....

Agree with velo! Im 39 weeks so been side sleeping for a while now, it does become literally impossible as your bump gets big and hard. I used to wedge myself with pillows on both sides to stop me from rolling over! You become used to the sore hips and crappy sleeps im afraid I really cant wait to be able to sleep on my tum again!!!

As previous posters said, you'll just have to sleep on your side, I found putting a pillow between my knees sort of helped a bit. I'm a front sleeper too and really missed it when pg with dd. The night she was born I turned over and slept on my front, it was wonderful - something to look forward to (and the birth of your baby too, of course)

I just carried on doing it, towards the end of pregnancy I would just prop one knee up to the side to give the baby a little bit of space. Baby didn't seem to mind though there were a few painful kicks as I've got quite a hard mattress.

I also slept on my front until it was impossible, and then moved onto pillows as props.
Since having my third child, I have not been able to sleep on my front at all. I still miss it, and he is 6! Every time I try, (and I do still try it out) I very quickly develop pains in my back and shoulders and have to move.

Just want to send some sympathy!

It was hard in the first pregnancy to get used to sleep on my side (I was a front sleeper and occasionally slept on my back, never on the side!). I eventually got used to it...

Now in my second pregnancy I found out the breastfeeding pillow (that one that is shaped like a horse shoe) helps a lot. I would lay over it with the bump in the 'hole' to sleep for a good few months. Now I'm bigger I'm afraid of squishing the baby, so I only do that for a few minutes, which is a good relief anyway.

So, if you are planning to buy a breastfeeding pillow, maybe it's a good idea to buy it now.

Don't worry about it being bad to front sleep or even back sleep or side sleep! The only problems to different positions are mum being comfortable but if you're not comfortable you will move.

Try a sort of recovery position type position, so on your side with your one knee raised, your arms tucked up around the top of your body and the top of your body rolled over onto your arms.

I don't think it matters how you sleep though, you're never going to be fully comfortable in pregnancy. I have to have an electric bed in hospital and I'm always disappointed when they send me home lol

Thanks guys, think I'll suffer til payday and then invest in one of those Mum E Pillows - they look fab!! Especially for someone who has always suffered with a little bit of back and shoulder pain.

I do like others have said, with a pillow (or 2) to prop my top leg up while I'm on my side.

Wanted to add that I had really achy hips - whichever one I lay on would start aching within half an hour. I got a spare double duvet, doubled it over, and put that on top of the mattress. It really, really helped the ache. You still get the support of your mattress but it's cushioned so easier on the sore hips.

I still do it at 30 wks with one knee drawn up at the side. Did this with my other 2 as well. I have a memory foam mattress though and I think it wouldn't be comfy otherwise.