Sleeping on left hand side in pregnancy

[fionnthedog]

Hello all,

I am currently 19+4 weeks pregnant with my first and beginning to struggle with sleeping due to my pregnancy exacerbating an existing lower back niggle. Essentially this makes sleeping on my left hand side almost impossible due to the strain it puts on the aching part of my lower back.

I have read that I should try and sleep on my left hand side, but, as I said, this is almost impossible and has lead to a number of sleepless nights which are taking their toll on me physically especially as I am still in full time work and have to be for a good few months.

Can anyone offer any advice??

Fionn x

Hello Fionn, I read these tips as well and have found it difficult all throughout my pregnancy (38 weeks this week) as I am a usual back sleeper. I would say invest in some body pillows and I think as long as you try to not sleep on your back all night you should be OK, especially at this early-ish stage. But as per usual with pregnancy things - maybe just mention to the midwife on your next visit and see what she says.

I find that now I probably sleep 50/50 on the right and the left and sometimes when I'm really fed up with tossing and turning I just give up and sleep on my back.

Is your mattress firm? Mine is at home but my MIL has a very soft one and when I've stayed at hers while pregnant my sleep has been much improved - so if it is firm maybe you can sleep on a different mattress (if you have a spare bed or something!? I think buying a new mattress would be a bit extreme! But you could maybe get a soft topper??)

Hope you find some relief.

I make a nest of pillows - one pillow in front, one behind and tuck them into my body quite tight, under my bump and right into my back. I think it takes a bit of pressure off my hips.

I also lie in the 'recovery' position and tuck a pillow under my bump, which takes the pressure off my hips too.

Poor DH has to slot into any leftover space

Oooh, I'd kill for a nice uninterrupted sleep on my back with my arms in the air. 20 weeks to go...Sigh!

This is something I never saw a great deal of point in worrying about as everyone tosses and turns so much in the night that you can't stop yourself sleeping in any position.

According to various midwives through my first two pregnancies, it is basically hysterical nonsense that you should sleep on your left. All have said that sleeping on your front gets uncomfortable long, long before it will even possibly cause harm. Sleeping on your back is fine as long as you are comfortable and not breathless and either side is absolutely fine. One midwife even said it did a lot more damage to be permanently exhausted from policing your sleeping positions than sleeping any way which was comfortable.

When you get to the point where your side is the most comfortable option, pillows between your knees can help take the pressure off your hips and back.

Sleep on whichever side you feel most comfortable, and prop yourself up with pillows etc. if that helps. The justification for the 'left side' wisdom is meant to be that blood flow is improved that way round. But I too have back problems so I know how hard it can and when I developed asthma in pregnancy was told to lie on my RIGHT hand side to alleviate pressure on the heart and lungs, and it did seem to help.
So I think the key is to find any position that is vaguely comfortable and go with it. If you are very concerned, check with your doctor, but I don't think you've anything to worry about.

Don't worry too much about it - make up your own mind:
www.slate.com/blogs/expecting_better/2013/09/06/deli_meats_and_sleeping_on_your_back_while_pregnant_are_either_ok.html

Hello all,

Thank you so much for your help! I have bought a body pillow but have been trying to use it to force myself to sleep on my left which is just so uncomfortable because of my back problem and I hardly sleep until turning in desperation onto my right.

I will speak to my MW when I next see her but I think I will just give up trying to force myself to sleep on the left! At least until I can get some relief from my back issues!

Thanks again xx

My midwife was very reassuring...basically sleep how you can. You will automatically move around at night anyway. I'm 37 weeks and can only sleep on my back, turning from side to side hurts too much due to bad spd.

I switched sides often but couldn't usually stay on my back for long. It was so painful though (SPD) but my SIL gave me a maternity slide sheet (Snoozle) and it made it a lot easier (and less painful) to move around in bed. I don't know how I could've survived with out it and my pillow xx

I'm so bored on sleeping on the left. I think I'm going to try to stop worrying about it as I'm ridiculously knackered. It must be better to get some good sleep, surely?

I have spd so turning from side to side is difficult and also hips hurt on my side. I have a v pillow and 3 normal pillows I use to prop myself up in bed so I'm not flat on my back - never thought I could sleep like this, but am managing a few hours at a time before waking which to me = fantastic pregnancy sleep!

I've slept on my left, right, back, and half on my tummy all the way through. I'm 35 weeks now and baby is fine.

Sleeping on your left also helps to use gravity to put the baby in an easier position to give birth.

Sleeping on your back "can" be dangerous as it compresses the vena cava which can restrict blood supply. The lady running my ante natal class said the best way to prevent this is to roll up a towel and out it under your bed sheets. That way you are never totally flat on your back so the blood supply is mostly unaffected.

At the end of the day you need to sleep so do what works best for you.

Frankel - At the OP's stage, the baby is still turning back flips though, anything about sleep helping labour positioning is very much in the last few weeks of pregnancy.

The whole business about compressing the vena cava is very much overhyped. Consultants have told me previously that you will get dizzy or uncomfortable before any damage, which prompts you to change position even in your sleep. It's a control mechanism, like how we faint from low blood pressure.

Penguins I appreciate that, I'm still only 25wks with my first so am taking everything I'm told literally

I hav slept on my right mostly throughout both my pregnancies. . Really please don't listen to that nonsense. Have you met anyone that haa compressed their vena cava or whatever, through sleeping position or even read about them in the paper? You must sleep however you feel comfortable.

I'm 18 with my third. It has reached the stage where I ignore almost everything

I'm 22 weeks and am a stage where trying to get to sleep is uncomfortable. I switch from left to right but always somehow end up on my back which is my natural sleeping position. I have ordered myself a Maternity sleeping pillow which I'm picking up this afternoon as many people have recommended it to me. It is about £45 which put me off initially but it can be used long after the baby has been born too. I'm struggling to sleep and am so tired that I'm willing to try anything

Someone recommended a Tempur mattress cover. Haven't tried it myself but could be worth a go.

Just an update: for the last two nights have gone to sleep on my right hand side and, whilst I am still waking up once of twice in the night, have slept MUCH better and my back already feels better. So I am ignoring the only sleep on the left advice at this stage.

Co-incidently, I had my 20 week scan yesterday and baby is fine! (Although do have a 'low-lying placenta' so that's something else to worry about!!)

Great news fionn!