Position when sleeping

[Lauraliverpool]

I'm 7 weeks 2 days and when in bed have been trying to sleep on my left side but sometimes will turn on my right side can wake up and I'm on my back, what should I be doing? X

I might be wrong but I thought it didn't matter until a lot later on in pregnancy.

Or I'm wrong and someone will be along to inform me as well (13w)

It's advised that you sleep on your left as a paramedic once said to me "if a pregnant women needs putting in recovery position just remember a woman is never right" it stuck with me I found it quite funny but I have always slept flat on my back and really struggled in my third trimester but I woke up every night on my back and my baby is a happy healthy little girl. I really don't think you should stress about it too much just do your best to roll onto your left if you wake up on your back. Invest in a good pregnancy pillow I still cuddle into mine now best thin we bought x

Your too early for it to matter really I think x I’m 35 weeks now and have been advised to only sleep on left and not on your back as could restrict oxygen to baby but that’s a lot later! Enjoy sleeping however you can for now... trust me x

@Rachie1986 just been reading different things, think I'm trying to get into the habit so I'm used to it, I do like sleeping on my back. X

@RLOU88 I do like sleeping on my back and do tend to sleep on my right side. Like you say enjoy sleeping however while I can. X

You don't need to worry about it until you are much further along in pregnancy and by then it's possible that you won't feel comfortable sleeping on your back anymore anyway.

@Deehit that's one way to remember, I do like sleeping on my back and sometimes half on my back and left side. X

Its not an issue until the third trimester. I’m 9 weeks and sleeping now I normally sleep (which is all over the place!)

@Bluebirdsky seem to remember in my last pregnancy it became uncomfortable sleeping on my back further on. X

@SoyDora I do like sleeping on my back at the moment and seem to favour sleeping on my right side. X

I don’t think it’s an issue until third trimester and even then, with all the best will in the world, you will end up sleeping however is most comfortable. I’m 37w and try to fall asleep on my side but wake up on my back most mornings.

@PrimeraVez I go to sleep on my left side then I turn on my right side with a pillow between my knees and one I lean on. X

You’re advised to sleep on your side in the third trimester as the weight of the baby bump can impede the vena cava which can restrict blood flow for both you and baby. At the moment your baby is teeny and so it doesn’t matter how you sleep so make the most of it whilst you can! Btw I’m a paramedic and 37 weeks pregnant

@Kilo3 will definitely be making the most of sleeping while I can. X

I've got pregnancy cushion and it's great, you can rest your belly on one of the sides it's like a long tube cushion. Xx

"Expecting science website" discusses research behind many such recommendations, look that up.

I agree with PPs, it's from about 28 weeks that it would matter. Also, to put your mind at ease - all the studies that look at how sleeping position affects the stillbirth rate, they look at the position you fall asleep in, not the position you wake up in. They know that you can't control what your body does once it's asleep. And the studies confirm that falling asleep on your left side, even if you later roll over, is safer than spending the whole night on your back. If you wake up in a different position and plan on going back to sleep, you just go back onto your left side.

Glad I found this thread !

My wife is currently 17 weeks pregnant and is getting really bad leg pains after trying to sleep on her side.

Sound like she shouldn't need to try to sleep on her side this early on?

I find comfort sleeping on my left side, but sometimes I wake up and find myself on my back or right side. It’s fine though! Nothing to worry about.

The evidence for sleeping on your side even in the 3rd trimester is pretty shaky anyway but by that point its usually more comfortable to sleep on your side rather than your back so most women end up in that position by default.

Before the 3rd trimester its completely unnecessary to even think about it.

There are so may threads about this I think midwives may be need to start being clearer with women, who its increasingly seeming may have only heard vague scary headlines about not sleeping on your back when pregnant and its now become a 'thing'.

I hate to think there are loads of 1st trimester exhausted, nauseous women out there also trying to sleep in an unnatural position for them rather than getting a bloody good nights sleep for one of the increasingly rare times in their life. Actually makes me sad.

@jamysyooink I've been sleeping on my left side with pillow between my legs and then leaning on another pillow but at times finding I need to go on my back. X

@pastabest there are times when I feel I need to sleep on my back, especially last few weeks with the nausea. X

Honestly really don’t worry about it. Sleep however you are comfortable. It really doesn’t matter at this stage.

Even in the third trimester the evidence is poor... So really don't lose too much sleep over it (literally!)

you have permission from mumsnet to sleep on your back without feeling even slightly guilty about it