Struggling on my left side

[ThorsMistress]

I’m struggling to sleep at night on my left side. My midwife told me it’s important that I do but I’m waking up with pain in my leg and having to turn to my right.

Anyone else struggling with it? Or any tips?

How far along are you? The left is best but usually it's ok to sleep on your right as well.

Don’t worry too much! I had left sided sciatica and couldn’t lie on my left at all, through the whole pregnancy. DS was 10lb and absolutely fine! You can try and prop yourself on a million pillows, and I found a rolled up towel under my bump helped later on. It’s more important that you don’t sleep flat on your back but if you were comfortable enough to do that anyway I would be impressed.

I've slept mainly on my right for the whole of my pregnancy, because j don't find the left very comfortable. What I try to do is turn over to my left after I've been up in the night for a wee, so I am still quite sleepy and hopefully drop back off more easily.

Do you have a massive pillow to support your bump/hips? I can't sleep without mine at the moment.

Not sure why your midwife said you can't alternate and sleep on your right as there was only one small study out of four that showed sleeping on your left is preferred.

As a PPs said just don't sleep flat on your back.

NHS advice:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/tiredness-sleep-pregnant/
Tommy's advice:
www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/im-pregnant/pregnancy-calendar/third-trimester-weeks-29-40/sleep-position-pregnancy-qa
More on the study:
www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/pregnant-women-should-avoid-sleeping-back-last-trimester/

Thank you all. I’m 29+2 weeks and measuring 30 weeks, so quite big already!

Will get some more pillows!