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Original poster

How important is left hand side?

23 replies

Mississippilessly · 30/06/2018 22:04

I'm 30 weeks. I can't sleep on my left hand side. It's not comfortable, I'm too close to DH it's all hot and sweaty. I wake up several times a night. On my right hand side I fall asleep quickly and I sleep all night. How important is left hand side?

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Clairetree1 · 30/06/2018 22:09

there is no way to predict. Lying on your right means the baby's weight is pressing on the inferior vena cava. You would probably be alright, but it might kill you.

Discotits · 30/06/2018 22:11

‘Might kill you’.
I’d like to see the sources for that.

Clairetree1 · 30/06/2018 22:13

I’d like to see the sources for that.

look it up then. Simple

WiltedDaffs · 30/06/2018 22:15

Sleep is more important than which side you're on.

I used to switch sides throughout the night. During the worst of my SPD, the only way I could sleep was on my back, propped up at a 45 degree angle with pillows.

WiltedDaffs · 30/06/2018 22:18

The inferior vena cava runs along your spine. It's lying on your back, not your right hand side, which might put pressure on it.

BE18mum · 30/06/2018 22:18

I had a lot of pain in my left leg from a trapped nerve and asked a hospital midwife about it - she said not to worry too much, just to avoid sleeping flat on my back.

Figmentofimagination · 30/06/2018 22:21

Just try not to sleep on your back. Prop a pillow behind you to stop you rolling onto your back. I would always rotate from left to right throughout the night as the extra weight made my hip ache if I led on it too much.

YesItsMeIDontCare · 30/06/2018 22:22

I thought it was to do with the position of the baby. I slept on my right hand side. DS ended up back-to-back, got stuck and popped my coccyx out. Hmm

UrsulaPandress · 30/06/2018 22:24

It's such a joy being a woman isn't it!

kikibo · 30/06/2018 22:27

I fall asleep on the right. Always .

I'm sure your body makes you turn over if the position you're in is no good.

Sleeping flat on your back won't be comfortable anyway because you won't get enough air. So it's unlikely you'd stay like that for long.

Just sleep. That's far more important than the position you're doing it in.

chickhonhoneybabe · 30/06/2018 22:29

Ignore pp! Sleeping on your right side WILL NOT kill you!

The advice is to it sleep on your back because there is a major artery running down the front of the spine that supplies the placenta with oxygen-rich blood, and when women in late pregnancy lie on their backs, this artery is compressed by the heavy womb, reducing the flow of blood. This CAN cause still birth in the 3rd trimester.

LYING ON EITHER SIDE IS RECOMMENDED during the 3red trimester to help reduce the risk of stillbirth.

Please seek guidance from your midwife and official guidance which is documented here www.tommys.org/our-organisation/about-us/charity-news/common-questions-about-sleeponside

chickhonhoneybabe · 30/06/2018 22:32

look it up then. Simple

Rolls eyes! here is the guidance, you have quoted it very wrong!

www.tommys.org/our-organisation/about-us/charity-news/common-questions-about-sleeponside

Original poster
Mississippilessly · 30/06/2018 22:32

clairetree don't be so absurd.

Thanks all. I will try on the left again but not worry too much if I can't. Hate sleeping on my back anyway.

OP posts:
chickhonhoneybabe · 30/06/2018 22:34

Sorry my original post should state that lying on your back during the 3rd trimester may increase the risk of still bith.

Clairetree1 · 30/06/2018 22:39

I didn't say it would kill you, I said there is a chance that it might kill either mother, baby or both.

That is why it is emphasised in first aid training pregnant women are never to be put in recovery position on their right hand side, there have been instances where it has contributed to their deaths.

what is the point in starting a thread to ask a question, then saying "don't be absurd" when it is answered.

Lie however you want. lots of things we do increase our risk of death slightly. I had treacle tart with cream for dinner......

But don't ask the question if you don't want to hear the answer, and look it up for yourself if you really want to know.

Original poster
Mississippilessly · 30/06/2018 22:42

clairetree difference there is that they already needed the recovery position. Spouting such over-hysterical stuff on a pregnancy forum isn't particularly clever. I had indeed looked it up - thanks - but I just wanted a but of reassurance. Your answer was absurd.

OP posts:
Penguin34 · 30/06/2018 22:43

Jeez can't believe I'm so lucky to still be alive!! Phew!!

Original poster
Mississippilessly · 30/06/2018 23:03

Lol at Penguin

OP posts:
Discotits · 01/07/2018 05:01

I think if you’re going to say something like ‘it might kill you’ an accompanying source might be helpful to a worried OP.
Hmm

DuchyDuke · 01/07/2018 05:51

It’s not a mathematically significant risk but there in the NZ study there was a slightly higher stillbirth risk in right hand sleeping and no increased risk associated with less sleep. The facts behind the study are here www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/mothers-sleeping-position-and-risk-of-stillbirth/

If it were me I would just accept the lack of sleep.

SlightAggrandising · 01/07/2018 05:52

@clairetree1 could you cite the cases where women have died because of wrong side recovery position. V interesting. Thanks.

Havetothink · 01/07/2018 16:49

If you're really worried about which side you sleep on why not just ask dh to swap sides of the bed with you?

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