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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 position

16 replies

hartmel · 04/06/2013 12:30

I'm 26 weeks and I was told not sleep on my back..
Better to sleep on the left side.. Well the thing is that my baby most of the times (80%) does not like it when I'm on my left side. And I feel more comfortable on my right side or on my back...

Is it bad to sleep on your right side? Or on your back?

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YouSmellLikeBeefAndCheese · 04/06/2013 12:49

I thought you weren't supposed to sleep on your back because it makes you breathless? I could be making that up but I swear I've heard that before. It's supposed to be your left side so that you're not leaning on any organs or so my MIL told me.

BraveLilBear · 04/06/2013 12:49

Sleeping on your back can lead to the inferior vena cava (a major internal blood vessel) getting squashed by the weight of the baby and thus cutting off blood supply to your brain and your baby - although I understand that if that were the case, you'd be woken up and would feel faint and weird.

Sleeping on right is better than sleeping on back, but you can be more prone to heartburn/acid on that side due to stomach position.

Sleeping on left is supposed to be best because it optimises blood flow and staves off some heartburn. It's also supposed to help baby get into a better position.

I'm 33 weeks and prefer to sleep on my right, although have started sleeping on my left more because the heartburn isn't so bad.

Original poster

hartmel · 04/06/2013 12:51

Yes I know that. But I'm very uncomfortable on my left side and it makes me breathless. But not on my back or right side.. I think it is very strange.. I'm thinking that maybe because baby's position is more toward the left that I feel this way..

OP posts:

Boosiehs · 04/06/2013 12:53

I'm sleeping propped up in almost a sitting position. 28+5.

Newtobecomingamum · 04/06/2013 13:00

I was told not your back or right side and best position is on your left. However, there is such conflicting advice but I have just stuck to left to be on the safe side. I always used to sleep on my right so was really hard to adjust and ghe only way I could do it was to put a mound (I have 12.. Im not joking!) of pillows around me (hubby had to be moved into the spare room as he couldn't fit in the bed lol) to keep me in a comfortable position. I put pillows under my legs, supporting my left side, 3 on right side to stop me rolling over and then lots propping my back shoulders and head up in like a semi seated position. This is the only thing that worked for me and took ages to master but I finally found a comfy position. I did try the special pregnancy sleeping bendy pillow thing but it didn't work for me. X

rrreow · 04/06/2013 13:17

I could still sleep on my back at 26w, and would often wake up lying on my back. Now at 38w I definitely can't lie on my back (I get breathless almost immediately). It's not going to be harmful if it's only for a little while though. I mean when they do scans they expect you to lie on your back for 20-30mins.

They say left side is best, I think it's because of blood flow, but there is nothing wrong with lying on your right side.

knittingirl · 04/06/2013 13:59

I'm 28 weeks, and I tend to alternate between my left and right side (I can't seem to sleep the whole night in one position). I also have a sort of three quarters position where I'm mostly on my back but at a slight angle which I find really comfy at the moment. I figure if it starts to feel really uncomfy then it's time to move :)

poocatcherchampion · 04/06/2013 14:08

I can only lie on my back most of the time because of SPD. I worried loads about this last pregnancy but this time, i'm just sleeping however I can get comfy. Which is usually pretty propped up so I dont think i'm doing harm to my vena cava thingy.

Badgerwife · 04/06/2013 14:27

By all means sleep on the other side, I don't think it will do much harm, they say left side because of it causing less stress on your heart to keep your blood flow going. I don't think it causes high stress levels on the heart though. I could sleep on either side at that stage although I always get a stiff shoulder sleeping on my side rather than my stomach (my preferred position).

If you are comfortable on your back I wouldn't worry about it now. I'd say that at 37 weeks, it is now impossible for me to sleep on my back, the discomfort and sense of weight on my spine is really off-putting and horrible so I have to bear the stiff shoulder.

badguider · 04/06/2013 14:32

I sleep on my back and front and everything in between (at 26+5)... I asked the obstetric physio when she was going on about propping yourself on your left and she said that if you were constricting your inferior vena cava you'd know about it either with feeling lightheaded or palpitations or with leg circulation problems like pins and needles or cramp. She said that if you feel fine then it probably is fine and not to worry

jammiedonut · 04/06/2013 14:40

You're not supposed to sleep flat in your back because, as other posts have said, you can depress certain veins/arteries which can lead to all manner of complications, same for sleeping on right side. That being said, there is nothing wrong with lying on your back well supported by pillows (I have 4 or 5) so you are almost in a sitting up position. You can place a pillow under your knees for additional support too, just be prepared for the nightmare of constantly rearranging and adjusting pillows for the late night trips to the loo! I cannot sleep on my left as baby settles himself into an awfully painful position under my ribs and it takes forever to sort out in the morning. I've had to do the above since 22 weeks, took a little getting used to but ultimately sleep a lot better.

TinkyPeet · 04/06/2013 16:09

I'm as big as a house now so tend to roll around till I'm comfy, then find another comfy spot a couple of hours later etc. most of the time either cracking my dh one in my sleep or pushing him right up to the wall, poor bugger lol x

FoofFighter · 04/06/2013 20:37

I am 30w (today woo!) and sleep however I can get comfortable. the baby often still lies transverse and obviously doesn't like me lying on any side as a result :/ I lie on my back most often as it's the only way I can get to sleep without the baby kicking ten tonnes of crap out of me! I should imagine further down the line even that will be impossible.

curiousgeorgie · 06/06/2013 13:09

You're supposed to sleep on your left but I slept on my front till about 26 weeks (woke up that way!) and the midwife told me not to worry... Apparently if there was a problem I'd feel weird and wake up. I'm 37 weeks now and any position I can sleep in is fine by me!

Fairydogmother · 06/06/2013 13:15

i get heartburn if i lie on the left so i just start off on the right and generally end up on my back!

if everything is ok and you dont feel faint etc then lie whatever way makes you comfortable. theres no point in being sore etc trying to force yourself into a position thats not comfortable

StuckOnARollercoaster · 06/06/2013 17:38

I am more comfy on my right side - so I sleep on my right side. I see it as 2 options- follow the recommendation and not sleep well as I'm uncomfortable or have a lovely nights sleep on my right and tackle the day ahead.
(am 39 weeks now and haven't had any issues so can only advise that it works for me but everyone is an individual)

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