Sleeping positions in pregnancy

[Cantwaittobeamum]

Hi does anyone have any suggestions about sleeping positions please?

I've been trying to avoid sleeping on my back since 11 weeks, and instead sleeping on left or right side (I know left side is best). I actually asked the midwife about this at my 12 week scan and she said it's only really at 32+ they are concerned about you sleeping on your back, but I've still been trying to avoid it.

Anyway, I'm now 27 weeks and sleeping on my side. But I'm finding after an hour or two my hips start to ache and it sends pain down my legs, so I change sides and it's not long before that side starts to hurt too. I've tried hugging a pillow, and using a pillow as a wedge under my back, so I feel more like I'm on my back without actually sleeping on it, but this isn't very comfortable.

Does anyone have any suggestions please? I know tiredness is normal but it doesn't help when I can't sleep because I'm not comfortable.

Thank you

Pillow between your knees usually helps. Sleeping always got tricky in the last trimester- such a shame as you get do little sleep for years after!

Yep, pillow between the knees and, even better, a long one all the way down to feet. I also sleep propped up on my back. I switch from side to side and propped up throughout the night

Yeah I've also tried pillow between my legs. It helps but I'm still waking up with that achey feeling from being on my side too long. Might try propping myself up though. Give some relief to my hips. Thank you

Hi OP,
I was the same as you at 11 weeks and had shooting pains in my hips. I was advised not to worry too much until later on. At 11weeks, your baby isn't going to be big enough to put pressure on you if you lay on your back.
I'm now 22 weeks and I try to sleep on my side. I always go to sleep on my side but if I find I wake a lot in pain, I just revert to sleep on my back.
I was told that I would naturally wake up and reposition myself if I was on my back too long and that does seem to be the case.
As I continue to get bigger, I'm sure I'll sleep on my back less and less.
At 11weeks, I think it's more important that you're well rested.

I struggle when pregnant because I'm a belly sleeper. I tend to sleep on my side but with my top leg more forward so I'm sort of leaning on my belly a bit. But that gets uncomfortable too. Guess it just goes with the territory!

For a while I was like the princess and the pea with the number of duvets I put under me!! I'm 35 weeks and my tummy is still quite small so sometimes if I can I sleep on my back - sometimes it makes me feel weird so I turn over onto my left again.

I'm 38 weeks and just discovered how to get comfortable in bed this week!

Basically on left hand side, a long pregnancy pillow between legs, whole upper body on a ramp made of 3 pillows.

I look ridiculous but I'm sleeping 6 good hours without waking and I feel great!

Give it a try!

No advise as I have the same problem of getting an achy hip if I stay on one side (currently 36 weeks). I do find though that I often wake in the night and find that I've turned over in my sleep so my body seems to naturally rotate between the 2 sides. As my bump has got bigger I've definitely found using a small wedge shaped pillow under my bump has helped me get more comfortable.