sleeping on your left side......

[letitpea]

How important is it? I have been trying for weeks now and I just can't! I can sleep on my right fine, but I have spent night after night jiffling about and not sleeping properly trying to get comfy on my left.

I gave up last night and had the best nights sleep in ages, but all on my right. 20wks currently

Hi I have had 2 kids and until I was unable to I slept on my tummy just because it was the only way I could sleep.
I have never been able to sleep on my back gives my real bad sore heads. I'm not sure why you have to sleep on your left I would say sleep what ever way is comfy for you but if you do want to sleep on your left have you tried a pillow under your bump for comfort

Sleeping on your left side will increase the amount of blood and nutrients to the placenta and to your baby.

I have two DC and always tried to sleep on my left side.

... But I don't think there's any evidence to say sleeping on your right hand side will harm the baby.

Relax OP. Just sleep however you're comfy.

I thought it was your back you weren't supposed to sleep on, but just that.

I got used to sleeping on my left side as a) I could no longer sleep on my stomach, b) I got raging heartburn if I slept on my right hand side.

I never did, I used to start on my left side but I would always wake on my right. For a little while I slept upright by 35weeks I was sleeping which ever way was comfy and I could.

I'm 26 weeks pregnant and sleep mostly on my right. I am suffering with spd and find it uncomfortable on my left for long periods. I don't worry about it too much tbh. Would rather get some sleep and be able to walk the next day. It is not harmful to sleep on your right, as far as I know.

33 weeks and I still sleep on my back

3 DC and they are all perfect (robust data there)

Thanks everyone, it does seem a little extreme to have to sleep in a particular position. Will sleep on my right and be grateful for the sleep i get at this stage!

I always tried to sleep on my left for the majority of the night. I used one of those long windy pillows which did help. I was Ms Paranoid from the land of the paranoids though after several mcs.
You could ask your midwife?

I'm more comfortable on my right but do try and sleep on my left.

I could never sleep on my left while i was pregnant, then while in labour with DS he became very distressed and they suggested I lay on my left side to see if it helped. It actually made him worse, so they suggested I try on my right instead and he settled right down.
If you can't settle on your left I partly think it's babies way of telling you they don't like it over there.
Go with what your body thinks is right.

I use a nest of pillows to keep me on my left side and have had to swap sides of bed with hubby but only because spd makes my right side too uncomfortable to sleep on and his weight would cause me to constantly roll to the right and I would struggle to turn over again! Your left side is only really important if you have high blood pressure as this will bring it down and to increase flow to placenta ... at your stage OP just do what's most comfortable for you while you are able to get comfortable enough to sleep :)

39 weeks and tried so hard to do this with some success but eventually figured however I could sleep was the way I should sleep. Like pp said, sometimes I felt that my LO kicked against me sleeping me on my left. As I say I'm 39 weeks and he seems to be fine.

Fwiw - and I'm no expert - I think it's to do with baby positioning. If you lie on your back they're more likely to be back to back and if you sleep on right they're more likely to be nesting there where you want them not back to back and to the left. Atnyournstage there's plenty room and time to turn.

I try OP but I can't lie on one side all night as it really hurts my hips, so usually end up just switching between the two all night long. I usually sleep on my front (when not pregnant!) and can't wait to be able to again. As a PP has said it's for optimum blood flow to the placenta but please don't get stressed about it, the most important thing is that you get some sleep.

It's far more important to get some decent sleep! If you're comfy on your left then great, if not then sleep on your right. You'll probably find you switch whilst you're asleep anyway.

I normally sleep face down and have been really suffering with not getting comfy. My other half bought me this pillow and OH MY GOD THE RELIEF. not getting the hip or back pain and I can actually sleep on my left!

Sanggol Maternity Pillow / Body Pillow + FREE REMOVABLE 100% COTTON CASE www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LJR51AW/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_EKwavb0S27PH8

Obey the body. My baby hated left lateral but we both slept fine on the right. She is currently 6month baby snuggled up with me.x

I read the same advice so when I had a scan and they noticed a notch in the artery giving potentially worse blood flow to the placenta I asked if I should sleep on the left side and the sonographer said it didn't matter. I do still try to though!

I sleep on my back normally, but in pg have tried side sleeping. I really struggle with the left, better on the right, but I do best with some pillows banked up so I can sleep propped up on my back (I understand this is safe vs sleeping flat on back...)

Don't worry about it. I mentioned it to my fil who's a gp and he was surprised and had never heard of the recommendation.