sleeping on the right or on your back

[MummyToToby]

does doing this really affect the position of your baby?who has done this despite mw's advice and still had an LOA baby?

A baby's back is apparently the heavyiest part of the baby and hence sleeping/lying on your back can encourage the babys back to lie along your back. Apparently if they are lying in this way the easiest way round is the left side as the uterus is not evenly shaped. The IDEAL position is upside down with their back on the left of your belly button, though if it is on the right it can easily turn during labour. I have slept on my left for both of pregnancies. DS1 was in the correct position DS2 (due in three weeks) is apparently in a good position as well. I would recommend it, although at first it feels really uncomfortabel to only sleep on one side.

i always sleep on left and this baby was all over the place

Always slept on the left too and ds2 flipped over to the breech position at 37 weeks - so no guarantee!

spoo - misread that and thought I should be sleeping upside down

I had no idea about optimal foetal positioning when pg with ds1, he was op and got stuck/I never fully dilated, ended in an em c/s

With ds2 I ALWAYS slept on my left, had cushions on settee, car seat etc to raise my hips above level of knees, did yoga once a week, spent at least 5/10 mins a day on hands and knees. He was never op to my knowledge, and cerainly not at the end.

do you know how early in your pg you should do the left-side-sleeping thing? I always go to slepp on my left but usually wake up on the right!! am hoping that I'll get more used to 'staying on my left' as the weeks go by!

never too early if you've had one c/s already!

I used a variety of pillows to get me comfy in bed and they tended to prop me up on whichever side. When very pg, I would find it very painful if I woke up having rolled onto my back, but in first pg I alternated btwn sleeping on left and right hand sides.

It is never to early to sleep on your left because you eventually get used to it and stay on your left. Just keep doing it Olivo and your body will learn. Anyway at the later stages you can't turn fully over in bed without waking up first! I also have apillow between my legs to help with pelvic alignment. I tend to only get up once or twice a night for a pee although I am 37 weeks pregnant. That might be to do with having a 15 month old though!!

I thought you had to sleep on your left because it helped your organs function better during pregnancy...? Anyone know for sure?

I always understood that, as the baby gets larger it puts more weight on your aorta and therefore sleeping on your back can decrease blood flow. Hence the advice to sleep on your left side. I think it is only really important later on in pregnancy. Have never heard of it relating to baby's position.

I am not pretending to be an expert or anything - I am only repeating what my antenatal yoga teacher told me. I think it does affect the blood flow to your legs too, but I was told that being on your left helps OFP (optimal feotal positioning). As does loads of other stuff - e.g. being on all fours, gym balls etc. I think you only need to sleep on your left later in the pregnancy but because your body won't be used to it it is best to start as early as possible. I did have trouble this time round as I struggled with NOT sleeping on my back - but I am fine now.

Could be, but I slept on my left side from the very beginning with ds and he was frank breech for about the last 6 - 8 weeks on, so I wouldn't count on it.

left tio ensure good blood supply