How bad is it to actually sleep on your back when pregnant

[MrsRose2018]

Hi ladies

So I’m 25 weeks pregnant! I’ve read the books and the guidance and listened to the midwife etc who say you should sleep on your side during pregnancy and left is best.

I know this is all to do with the placenta and blood flow to the baby and me so.. important! But my question is - how much can you get away with on your back?

My hips and knees are KILLING me at night! I have a pregnancy pillow and it’s awesome but I’m waking up about every hour on one side and have to roll over as I have this horrible achy/burning pain in my hips and knees.

I then have to swap sides again an hour later as the other side is killing me and eventually about 3 in the morning both sides are on fire and the only way I can get some unbroken sleep/relief from the pain is to roll on my back for an hour or so!

I know this isn’t ideal and I feel guilty but I’m shattered and in pain and I can’t get a clear picture of whether in doing us any damage.. :(

TIA xx

Don't know there are studies about it, but was also told not to sleep on my back. I am more of a stomach sleeper, but that also had to go once the bump got bigger. We were shown a position which is quite good but hard to explain in writing. I do alternate between left and right and sometimes stand up at night to stretch.
In my first pregnancy I was offered accupuncture on NHS and that helped a bit, but now no chance of this happening sadly.

Following as I am the exact same @MrsRose2018

Every hour or so it's like my hip goes numb and on fire at the exact same time, but rolling over with my pillow is like a wrestling match.

Somebody must have advice!

Omg @Babyshine2020 I hear you!!

I have the long side of my preggy pillow down My right side, a regular pillow between my knees and a little bumper pillow under my belly so manoeuvring myself with all that is like climbing a mountain!

And the noises and humping about I make... it’s a good job my husband is a tolerant saint because I wake him up every time as well and he never complains 🤦‍♀️

I’m 24 weeks and in the exact same boat. I also have tendonitis in my left hip and now I hate going to bed :( totally feel for you x

I’m genuinely not far off moving out of bed and sleeping on the sofa!

We’ve got an amaaaazing deep long leather sofa and when my pregnancy pillow is on that when I’m just chilling downstairs I can sit/nap comfortably on that for hours on my left side!

I don’t wanna do that though as I feel like my time to sleep and cuddle with my husband undisturbed is limited :(

It’s the little things that get you down isn’t it!

I'm also 25 weeks and have Meralgia paresthetica which is fine unless I sleep on my side. However, the guidance is only from 28 weeks so I'm enjoying my last three weeks of being able to sleep on my back!

The best overview of the research and risks I have found is from Tommy's. It looks like from 28 weeks sleeping on your left side is really quite important: 'New research confirms that the risk of stillbirth is doubled if women go to sleep on their backs in the third trimester.'

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

Exactly the same here!
I’ve put a duvet on top of my mattress and it’s definitely helped.
I raised the question with my midwife and she said that to try as much as possible to sleep on my side but not to panic if I wake and I’m on my back. She also said if I need to sleep on my back to sleep elevated with pillows.
I also find getting up and walking to the loo helps ease the pain and I’m up so much for the loo anyway I just try and go when I’m in pain. Oh the joys!

I found sleeping tilted towards my back like this / most comfortable. I piled cushions behind me to stop me completely rolling over onto my back and a pillow to prop my bump up and one between my knees if needed.

I figured better than sleeping completely on my back and was more comfortable overall.

Its a bloody circus trick isn't it!

@SkaLaLand and I literally sound like an elephant!

Thanks for the guidance @youreallyarefantatsic... looks like it’s just another “shut up and deal with it” situation like round ligament pain and morning sickness...

Bites being pregnant sometimes doesn’t it! Least the final prize is worth it (usually) 😂

'New research confirms that the risk of stillbirth is doubled if women go to sleep on their backs in the third trimester.'

Worth bearing in mind that double low risk is still a low risk. That's said, it was enough to make me sleep on my side. My rights side though - can't do left for some reason.

Your joint pain, OP, you had that checked out or was it something you had prior to pregnancy? Or does it literally only affect you when you sleep on your side? Just asking because my friend had really bad joints all of a sudden and it turned out to be a condition. Not trying to worry you at all, just if it's persistent you might want to get it checked out.

Hi @shmabel literally just since pregnancy and actually usually only when I’m sleeping/in one position for too long!

I’m quite stiff/sore in my hips etc when I’m moving around but I figured that was just everything relaxing so I can push a baby out 😂😂 x

Yeah, it's probably just normal pregnancy stuff. So many aches and pains! If it gets worse though, I think it's worth mentioning to your midwife.

Hi, I'm currently 28 weeks pregnant with DC5, with my last pregnancy I developed SPD. Overnight, after a while, it would feel like my hips and pubic bone were on fire. I used to start off on one side, pillow between knees, switch sides when that became uncomfortable and then usually end the night sleeping pretty much sat up. Always felt uncomfortable lying too flat anyway.

This pregnancy hasn't been as bad as yet, but I've been more aware of trying to minimise hip discomfort from the outset. That being said I'm tending to favour sleeping sitting up.

As much as having a newborn disrupts sleep it is lovely afterwards to be able curl up in whatever position I want

Ive found that in the final trimester the baby feels so heavy that you cant bear to lay on your back for too long anyway - it feels like it squashes your insides and i found it very uncomfortable. Since your only 25 weeks your probably not at the uncomfortable stage yet but id defo take the advice very seriously in the final trimester.

Ive found that in the final trimester the baby feels so heavy that you cant bear to lay on your back for too long anyway - it feels like it squashes your insides and i found it very uncomfortable. Since your only 25 weeks your probably not at the uncomfortable stage yet but id defo take the advice very seriously in the final trimester.

@auntienameyname so I get to become more uncomfortable? Yaaaay :)

Alas I think you may be right... looks like I’m moving to the sofa for the next few months 😂

Could it be your mattress? Ours was spring so we swapped it with the spare room foam mattress and I haven't had any hip pain since! Unless I napped in the spare bedroom
30 weeks now.
I know the above isn't a great solution but if you're finding the sofa is more comfortable, I would spend some nights on there, sleep will be the rarity soon

It's the weight of your uterus and stuff if j remember correctly. It's not fun and you have my sympathies OP. Just stick with sleeping on your left, it's safest.

Thanks all!

Gonna try the duvet on top of the mattress tonight and if I absolutely have to lie on my back I’ll prop myself upright!

Failing that... sofa time :)

Xx

try sleeping propped up on loads of pillows as you would if you had a nasty cough