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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 positions

20 replies

SellyMevs · 10/02/2014 18:06

Hi, I'm 13 weeks tomorrow and just wondering about sleeping positions, particularly in later pregnancy.

I sleep on my back. I tend to fall asleep on my sides but will always end up sleeping on my back. At which point does this become a problem and is it possible to change my habits before this happens? I'm a fairly deep sleeper so I don't even realise I'm doing it.

Does anyone have any tips?

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Mummytobe2014 · 10/02/2014 18:32

Im 36 weeks and fall asleep on my sides and wake on my back, i didnt even realise this cld be an issue till i read a post on here but then othet posters said ur body will naturally wake u up to move when it becomes uncomfortable so i wouldnt worry too much. Ul be grateful to sleep at all in last trimester

AmelieRose · 10/02/2014 18:39

I usually sleep on my stomach when not preg, so have had to train myself to sleep on my side. I clamp a fairly large pillow between my legs so I'm almost hugging it and that seems to help me fall asleep. Started about ten weeks and am nearly 22 weeks now and it mainly works.

I still wake up on my back or half on my stomach at times though.

PenguinsDontEatKale · 10/02/2014 18:56

Any position is fine as long as you are not uncomfortable or dizzy. If you are uncomfortable or dizzy, your body will prompt you to move.

The main issue with sleeping on your back is likely to be that you drive your partner (if you have one) mad with your snoring!

mel0dy · 10/02/2014 19:20

I sleep on my side anyway but when I lie on my back for a bit it gets uncomfortable quickly. (14 weeks)

Pillow between legs is a good shout - I'm not entirely sure how it makes such a massive difference seeing as haven't got a massive bump yet, but it really does!

I'd be inclined to say that as long as you and your bump are comfy it should be ok - body will tell you otherwise. Ask MW at next appointment if you need some reassurance.

BartBaby · 10/02/2014 19:29

I'm 32 weeks and often wake up on my back. I use a pillow between my legs and go to sleep on one side. Then wake up after about 2 hours with achy hips and shoulders, go for a pee, then go back to sleep on the other side. This continues all night! Proof that when your body is uncomfortable it will wake you up.

ClearlyMoo · 10/02/2014 19:36

I've been trying to sleep on my left side (supposedly reduces risk of stillborn) since 10 weeks. DH and I even switched sides of bed. However the more pregnant I get (now 27 weeks) the more I want to sleep on my right side. I woke up on my back a few weeks ago having had a dream I couldn't breathe, then realised I was almost dizzy/fainting hence the dream! Everyone is different tho. Hugging a pillow helps me stay on my side (left if I can manage it)!

Expectingtwins1975 · 10/02/2014 20:41

Clearlymoo I've had the same thing a couple of times - woken up on my back having a dream someone was suffocating me .... Feeling dizzy and breathless .... Its reassuring to know that your body will wake you up if its not happy

Roseandmabel · 10/02/2014 20:43

I sleep on my tummy - is this ok at 13 weeks?

PenguinsDontEatKale · 10/02/2014 21:26

Of course it is

SweetPea86 · 10/02/2014 22:03

Before i was preg I can't fall a sleep unless I'm on my tummy, I managed to sleep like this untill 20 weeks then got uncomfortable every night tried my hardest to fall asleep on my side but would wake up on tummy. It's impossible now 31 weeks, so I now but a pillow inbetween my legs and go to sleep on my side, wake up with the pillow on the floor lol

Oh I dream of the days of sleeping on my tummy again

Original poster

SellyMevs · 10/02/2014 22:13

Fingers crossed I can continue with my sleeping habits! I've never been a tummy sleeper though.. more a star fisher. My DH likes to get into bed and go to sleep before me. Otherwise he finds he's out of space! You just read things about pillows being a must and I wondered if sleeping was such the big problem the books make it out to be! I shall resume as I have been...

OP posts:

PenguinsDontEatKale · 10/02/2014 22:14

Yes, it is, but not until much later. I was pretty comfortable up to about 20-25 weeks each time. But you get to a point where the logistics mean extra pillows come in handy.

Mummytobe2014 · 10/02/2014 22:19

Iv had long pillow since about twenty weeks but now find i need a pillow under my bump too otherwise it becomes painful. I didnt realise how uncomfortable sleeping wld be but i also have spd, its not even my lo
keeping me awake he seems to sleep all night currently!

kiwiscantfly · 11/02/2014 06:44

I find the pillow between my knees means I don't wake up with sore hips, odd I know. It's funny how our bodies adjust, I never ever sleep on my left but from 20 weeks in both of my pregnancies I've been able to do so. I'd be lost without my knee pillow now!

greentshirt · 11/02/2014 08:06

Left side/front is my fave sleeping position so I haven't found that too bad. I have found that I don't move a lot in the night so have been getting a bit of pain in my left hip. If I do move in the night I seem to be all over the place, restless and unable to get comfy!
Nearly 32 weeks now and just hopeful that the limited sleep I get with a newborn will be better quality that now, even if I'm not getting the hours in! Usually I could sleep on a washing line so this is the one thing I'm finding most frustrating about pregnancy!

Jenbee1 · 11/02/2014 10:50

Friend is a nurse and I might be misremembering this but when she was pregnant the recommendation was not to sleep on your back after 16 weeks as the weight of the baby pushes down on a nerve running down your back and can cause you to pass out. If you end up on your back the baby should nudge you over and it's not a huge problem.
I sleep on my back normally. Finding sleeping on my side vary painful at the moment. Bought a dream genie to help but I think I need to be a bit bigger

PenguinsDontEatKale · 11/02/2014 11:13

Jenbee - That is the theory, yes. The reality is that your body is actually fairly efficient and will prompt you to move position if there is an issue.

honeyharris · 12/02/2014 10:10

I'm the same as you greentshirt, have managed to wedge myself onto my left side (I'm usually a right hand side, rolling onto stomach sleeper) but I wake up every hour or so with pain in my left hip, then roll onto my back for a couple of mins till it goes off and have to try and make sure I don't nod off that way!

x0gawjus0x · 12/02/2014 10:20

Sleep on my left side/pretty much belly lol she starts kicking off but gets herself comfy and then it's fine.. Wake bout 4 times a night for a drink/wee only 3 more weeks left I hope.. Although I spouse the waking is goo practice for breast feeding through the night! X

Writerwannabe83 · 12/02/2014 12:20

I'm almost 34 weeks and the only position I can sleep on now is my left side.

I have always been a Tummy sleeper but that had to stop when I was about 17 weeks. I then reverted to sleeping on my back which I was able to do for a weeks but then I started to feel a bit dizzy if I lay in that position for too long a time. These days, even if I'm on my back for more than a few minutes I actually feel like I can't breathe - it's horrendous.

As your pregnancy progresses your body will naturally alter what position you sleep in depending on what is physically possible

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