Sleeping on your left side when pregnant?

[LeeRorr]

Hi all,

Sorry to trouble you all with this, just looking for some advice from people with experience. I'm 7 weeks pregnant and my appointment with the midwife isn't 'til the end of December. So naturally I have been Googling everything, and I read it's best to sleep on your left side while pregnant. So I have been, but now my left arm is getting really sore - I'm used to switching from left to right during the night. What I'm asking is just HOW important is it to sleep on your left side rather than your right?

I could be wrong but I think at 7 weeks you can sleep however you like. I've read that the most important thing is to get a good night's sleep, regardless of position.

I'm 30 weeks and alternate between my left and right side and have had no issues so far. It's been a challenge because I'm usually a front sleeper but that's no longer possible

At 7 weeks I don't think you really need to worry about it, the baby is still so tiny it won't make a difference. You're better off making sure that you get a good nights sleep.

As pregnancy progresses then you will need to sleep on your side, I think left is preferable but can be impossible all night.

I'm currently 40+ and alternating left and right throughout the night...if I stay on one side too long my hips and back are in pieces. X

At 7 weeks I don't think it matters at all, I'm near the end and just trying to avoid lying on my back which is hard enough

It's suggested that you don't sleep on your back in the third trimester i.e. after 28 weeks. That's literally all. Sleep however you like right now, the baby is months off being heavy enough to compress blood vessels.

Thanks guys! I know it's early - I'm just driving into super paranoid mode about everything

Doesn’t matter at that stage but you’ll find later on in pregnancy due to pressure in your body it will be damn near impossible to sleep in the same position all night. Unfortunately sleeping on my left side currently makes my left hip/pelvic area numb (beginning of SPD I think) so I’m pretty limited right now

I agree, just sleep how you want for now because when you get to your 3rd trimester you won't be able to and you'll naturally find yourself sleeping on one side or the other just because you can't sleep flat on your back (dizzy and lightheadded) or your stomach (for obvious reasons).

It’s only in the later stages you need to worry. And even then left side is more ideal but either side is fine. Please don’t start stressing this early, you’ve got a loooong way to go. Congratulations x

Don't worry about if if you're comfy sleeping other ways (although full back & full stomach unlikely to work when you're huge).

I had to sleep on left to deal with heartburn late in 4th pregnancy, but other pregnancies I could sleep in most other positions, too.

You're only 7 weeks, sleep how you want dude! It's the weight of a massive bump that's the problem. You can sleep on either side and it's fine if you roll into your back then move back to side when you realise.

At 7 weeks you don't need to worry about that. It's when your further on and baby is much bigger.

Hey OP-I put the thread up about the whole sleeping on your side thing (you should be able to find it somewhere on page 2!).

The wonderful people @tommyscharity have a great video online if you Google their #sleeponyourside campaign where they stress so long as you start on your side not to worry if you go onto your back-just flip yourself over again. I think any side will do, I also don't think it applies to you until you're 26 or 28 weeks +

Don't google it. As you'll see in the thread I got myself in a proper tizzy over it! That way in madness lies-I promise, I was there!

at 7 weeks i was sleeping in my normal position, facing the mattress , I MISS IT :) now as the rest at 22 swap between left and right, think i'[ve done it since week 16 as i was starting to have some pains in the pelvis so thought it'd be easier to get used to it

There are some specific pregnancy pillows available that help you sleep on your left side. Not fun OP! I was so happy to sleep on my back again!

You really don't need to be worrying about it until you're in 3rd trimester or you get uncomfortable on your back. Baby is like the size of a pea now and it only becomes an issue to not fall asleep on your back (waking up on your back and rolling back over later is fine) past about 28 weeks. Sleep however you're comfortable now and don't stress about it. You have plenty of time for being uncomfortable and having sore shoulders and hips in the future, so I'd enjoy sleeping however you want for now.

Sleeping on your right is absolutely fine. When I was heavily pregnant I alternated between right and left - one side made my heartburn worse and the other made my throat gurgle. Neither were all that fun and I'm dreading it this time around!

Agree with PP - the most important thing is getting the best sleep you can.

It’s better to sleep on your left, but as pp’s have said, you don’t need to worry about sleep positions till later on.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.14967/full

Will try the link again.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.14967/full