Tips for sleeping on left side?

[Autumnsloth]

This sounds daft, but I just can't seem to fall asleep on my left side. The midwife told me to start doing this last week, and I'm losing so much sleep. I usually sleep on my back or right side, and apparently both of these are bad. I'm only 4 months pregnant so not really big bump and I fear it will only get worse!

Would really appreciate any tips, if you happen to have shared this difficulty and find something that works!

Try a maternity pillow to position yourself.

I have heard that it's bad to sleep on your back, but what's the problem with sleeping on your right? Bodies are fairly symmetrical so I wouldn't have thought it would make a difference.

I had this advice too and try to sleep on my left but wake up on my back or right.
I tried putting a pillow behind me, it sort of works but I'm usually half on it when I wake up 🙄 I was advised by a friend to invest in one of those giant u pregnancy pillows, but they seem so expensive 🤔

My tip would be, sleep however you are most comfortable.

There's been lots on here over the years about sleep positions and I think the general conclusion is that it only really matters in the last few weeks of pregnancy and even then the evidence is a bit shaky about sleep position causing any significant harm.

Those big u shaped pregnancy pillows are great though for keeping you comfortable whatever position you sleep in.

Positioning myself with pillows seems to have been best so far but I’ve bought a proper pregnancy pillow that hopefully will help. I always wake up on my back and have to turn back to my left. The left is so uncomfortable but I definitely get more movements than compared to my back or right side position so I’m trying really hard to stay on my left. At your stage I wouldn’t worry about it too much, I’d enjoy sleeping as you wish before your bump gets too big.

I also struggle sleeping on the right side but I spoke to my midwife who said either is fine - it's just back and front you need to avoid. To be honest, I find back positions make me feel extremely nauseous and I stopped doing front from day 1. I have one of those huuuge pregnancy pillows which go all the way round you like a big horseshoe, which means I can turn in the night if I want to change side. It's a game changer! Doesn't leave much space for DH though, ha ha

Thanks for all your tips! Definitely going to investigate those pillows.

kayakingmum, the reason she gave was that apparently there is a vein on the right that transports oxygen, and it's better not to put too much pressure. But as others have said this is perhaps more important later on. we

From around 20 weeks you are best to avoid sleeping in your back as the weight of the baby can put pressure on the main after that provides the blood supply. Research shows this is not likely to cause the baby any harm, more likely make you feel dizzy and light headed.

In reality sleeping on your left or right makes very little difference. The blood supply is more to the right hence sleeping on left stops any pressure on it. I slept on my right my entire first pregnancy as had a knee injury that hurt if on left and midwife all said it was fine. Main thing is you get sleep!

I absolutely swear by my maternity pillow and it really does keep me on my left until I have to give in for an hour or so when my left side goes numb.
Expensive but well worth it and the later in pregnancy the more you'll find it a godsend to have between your legs

Another vote for the U-shaped pregnancy pillow! It’s been the best investment for me, had it from about 18 weeks as I was struggling to sleep on my side (I am normally a front sleeper!). I have one part of the pillow sort of wedgedbetween my knees and under my bump to support it, and the other side wedges underneath my bum/lower back.

I was told left side too but I’m 39 weeks now and have to flip between left and right side during the night as my hips start to ache if I’m on one side for too long!

I'm not saying this is okay by all means if your midwife has told you otherwise but I am 38 weeks pregnant and not for one night in my whole pregnancy have I slept on my left!
I have a pregnancy v pillow and can still only sleep on my right (even slightly on my front) it's been fine for me! I'm not advising you to do the same just letting you know. I could count my bad nights sleeps on one hand also, maybe Iv just been lucky!

As OP suggested - body pillow or multiple pillows. That’s also what got me through! Oh and sometimes I made it into a doughnut & sleeped on it as im a stomach sleeper 🤣

I’m sleeping on right and back. Can’t sleep on my left due to a shoulder issue (lying on my left is a agony).
Interestingly my MW said nothing about sleep, although I knew about left side in later pregnancy. I’m 19+6.
I’ve not found any need for pillows yet either, bump not impacting sleep yet and it’s quite big!

I'm lucky I've never been a back sleeper. I have a V-shaped pillow I have position it to support boobs and bump. I occasionally wake on my right side as I get pain in liver area.

I slept on my back with my second who was heavier and bigger bump until the last trimester where I had no choice but to sleep on my side! I think either side is fine but left is prefable

The people who are saying that sleeping on your back is more about your comfort than a risk to the baby, "shaky evidence", etc - are giving dangerous advice. Recent research has confirmed that in the third trimester (I know you're not there yet, OP), sleeping on your back more than doubles the risk of stillbirth:

www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/sleep-side/sleep-position-and-stillbirth-risk-press-release

I'm 28 weeks now, haven't bought a pregnancy pillow but I do put a pillow in between my legs when sleeping on either side. Left is supposed to be best, but there's nothing wrong with sleeping on the right. I do end up with sore hips after a while sleeping on my sides though, and cannot fall asleep at all after, and eventually give in after tossing and turning and just sleep on my back. I've been told that if I'm putting too much pressure on vessels then I'll feel dizzy and light headed or numb etc, so unless I feel those things, it's fine and I fall asleep on my back within minutes. Maybe in the later weeks when the bump gets bigger it might start getting uncomfortable and make me feel dizzy on my back, but for now it's really the only position I can sleep comfortably in... how I miss sleeping on my front though!!