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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

confused, should i lie on my left or right handside (not that either is comfortable)!!

24 replies

curvymummy · 16/06/2007 14:54

21 weeks gone and already uncomfortable at night!! Have heard conflicting advice, I know I shouldnt lie on my back, but which side should I lie on instead?

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lulumama · 16/06/2007 14:56

left for preference, but either is fine

sleeping on your back will make you breathless and dizzy as your bump gets bigger

cupcakes · 16/06/2007 14:58

there was a new theory about when I was pg with dd2 that you shouldn't lie on one particular side as it restricted blood flow to the baby. I really can't remember which side it was though.

cupcakes · 16/06/2007 14:58

have you tried using a body pillow to help you get comfortable?

ejt1764 · 16/06/2007 15:09

Because of spd and coccyx problems I have to arrange myself in bed with pillows to get comfortable ... I feel happier on my left hand side, with ..

2 pillows between my legs
1 pillow in front of me - to 'hug'
2 pillows under my head.

This arrangement was suggested be the physio as it keeps the spine relatively straight, whilst supporting the pelvis and shoulders.

hth

AbRoller · 16/06/2007 15:43

think the left side is better as lying on your back or more inclined to the right puts pressure on major blood vessels causing dizziness and nausea.

It's a long time since I studied so would suggest you clarify that. It may be different today.

dal21 · 16/06/2007 16:57

Hey - they definitely say the left hand side, but as long as it isnt on the back - either is ok. I would defo recommend a body pillow for nighttime. I bought one a tad too early but recently (am now 25+1 weeks along)- am starting to get twinges in back and legs if I dont use it. Mine is fab, completely molds to the body (apparently aligns the spine) and i love it!

edam · 16/06/2007 16:59

Agree, left side. Pillow under 'top' leg to support it, bottom leg extended, top leg with knee bent, worked for me.

bumperlicious · 16/06/2007 17:04

I would say sleep however you are comfortable! With the whole sleeping on your back thing both the dr and my yoga teacher said to me that you will feel uncomfortable before you do any damage. If you find sleeping on your back comfy, try sticking a pillow under one bum check to raise you up a little bit which should take off any pressure.

It sucks when you start getting uncomfy at night, but if it's any consolation I am now 39 weeks and for the past 2 weeks have been sleeping better than I have all pregnancy! I have been sleeping hugging a v pillow, with one part of the v between my legs, which everyone recommended earlier on, but didn't help much then.

I also found for a while that sicking an extra pillow under my head helped ease my back when it was really aching.

I really feel for you as I remember how awful I felt all the time when I wasn't sleeping properly.

RGPargy · 16/06/2007 17:36

I'm waking up with neck ache every single day now and it's doing my head in! Also, if i accidentally sleep on my back i wake up with pins and needles in my arms. Any ideas anyone??

dal21 · 16/06/2007 19:23

Hi RGP - In the beginning i kept rolling onto my back and i would stick a pillow in the small of my back so if i rolled over i would be at an angle.
Eventually I found sleeping the way edam describes works a treat. If you have a pillow between your legs and throw the top one over (may want another pillow supporting your bump), your weight is forward and you dont roll onto your back.
You can use normal/ extra cushions if you want, but as I say - I love my full body jobbie! DH is most put out with my new cuddle buddy

RGPargy · 16/06/2007 20:30

Thanx Dal, think i'll try the extra pillow under my top knee. Might look at a body pillow too... hmmm....

PurpleLostPrincess · 16/06/2007 22:41

I sooo empathise with you!

I'm 26 wks now and I wake up at least every hour through the night - needless to say that I'm running on very low batteries!

Definitely agree about the pillow suggestions - I have a v pillow and it's great. Only thing I haven't mastered is turning over onto the other side lol!

I miss sleeping on my front soo much but with the v pillow I can almost do it by sleeping on my side with the but leaning forward a bit - the pillow makes it feel like I'm on my front but I'm not putting any pressure on the baby.

HTH

Tutter · 16/06/2007 22:43

am 35 weeks and so uncomfortable

usually end up moving beds at about 3am so i can arrange a nest of pillows around me

Ceolas · 16/06/2007 22:54

AT 30 weeks I am sleeping with a pillow between my knees, wedge shaped cushion under bump and two under my head and shoulders.

I think left side is preferable for positioning the baby, but either better than on your back.

wheniamqueen · 16/06/2007 23:47

I'm 30 weeks and have my own duvet which i put between my legs and under bump on my side, it seems to help, less rigid than a pillow and moves with me in my sleep, it also moves with me when i change side....which i have to as i wake up every few hours with a bad shoulder from laying on my side! Hope you feel better and manage to get some sleep!

j20baby · 16/06/2007 23:52

is it really bad to sleep on your back? i'm 24 wks and prefer it,but know i'm not meant to

maisym · 17/06/2007 00:01

I'm on my left side with a pillow between my knees. This is how I start off!

flibbertyjibbet · 17/06/2007 00:14

Sleep however you are comfortable. I lay with a not-too thick pillow under just one side of my back so that I wasn't flat on my back. You need as much sleep as you can get and if that sleep comes better lying on your back then its a no-brainer really. Actually in the end of pg2 I slept half sitting up on the sofa downstairs and got plenty of zzzzzzs.

bilblio · 17/06/2007 00:16

I think I was about 25 weeks before I realised I'd got my left and right mixed up. I thought I was being really good sleeping on my left all the time, but actually I was just being really thick. It did mean I won the argument over which side of the bed I get to sleep on in our new bedroom though.

Now I try to start off on my left with top leg bent and rested on a pillow, I position the pillow so the top of it is just under my bump. During the night (usually after my first loo visit) I turn over to the same position on my right side.

Inevitably at some point during the night I wake up on my back, I've not had any dizziness from lying on my back, but I have noticed this past week (I'm 35 weeks) that lying on my back for more than a few minutes makes my back ache unless I bend my knees.

RGPargy · 17/06/2007 00:28

Honestly, my neck is caining!! I will deffo try the pillow thing tonight. I'm only 16+4!!

willywonka · 17/06/2007 00:36

Without wanting to show off, I picked up a memory foam mattress from ebay earlier in the year and can still sleep comfortably on my front at 32wks . Last time round it was pillows galore from about 16wks so I bless that mattress each and every night when I go to bed.

RGPargy · 17/06/2007 00:52

Glad i'm not the only one that needs a pillow from 16 weeks then!! phew!!

Original poster

curvymummy · 17/06/2007 09:53

Thanks for all your responses, will try the pillow and will definately try to sleep on my left. I imagine dh will shortly be booted out into the spare bed to make room for all the pillows!

OP posts:

Alfie72 · 17/06/2007 10:36

I was told that lyicng on your left is better for you as the blood flow to the placenta and through one of your major heart vessels is better plus it encourages your baby to engage better in the pelvis later on. I have just invested in one of those super maternity pillows as it aint easy is it ? Lysing on your side all night.

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