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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Worried about sleeping on right side

21 replies

Shanlou12 · 29/05/2020 01:21

So Iv heard you should sleep on your left side but I’m really really struggling with this (normally a back/tummy sleeper) I’m 10+3 so trying to get used to sleeping on my side, I have to change age from left to right multiple times in the night dues to hip pain! But I’m finding it really hard to sleep on my left side and can only get comfy and sleep majority of the time on my right :(

OP posts:
denbyellie · 29/05/2020 01:22

It's only really the 3rd trimester you need to worry about how you're sleeping, you can sleep on either side, nhs advises you just don't sleep flat on your back.. x

DramaAlpaca · 29/05/2020 01:27

You're very early on so it's fine to sleep however you are comfortable. I used to sleep on my front in each pregnancy until the bump got too big at about 18 or 20 weeks. I think the sleeping on your left side thing might only be an issue in late pregnancy. Actually I'm not sure that it's an issue at all, but check that with your midwife. For now, sleep however you normally do.

Original poster
Shanlou12 · 29/05/2020 01:28

Thanks guys Smile read things and then start to worry even though you know it sounds a bit silly haha

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CoolNoMore · 29/05/2020 04:40

I thought this was just an old wives' tale in my first pregnancy, and slept on my back right until the end (albeit with a pillow under my knees for support). Having looked into it, I believe that left is actively helpful, right is absolutely fine, and back may be risky for some people so we're all told to avoid it. I'm at risk of placenta failure, so I'm doing my best with the left, but if all is well there is no reason whatsoever to stress about this. Sleep well!

itshappened · 29/05/2020 04:44

Get a pregnancy pillow... it will help when sleeping on your front and side.

SpillTheTeaa · 29/05/2020 05:11

Also a tummy sleeper but brought a straight long pregnancy pillow and shoved it in the middle of the bed and it did stop me trying to go on my front luckily

MsChatterbox · 29/05/2020 05:12

Left and right is fine just try to avoid back! When your hips are on fire later on in pregnancy there's no way you can only stick to left side all night so try to let this ideal go!!

Lemonysherbet · 29/05/2020 06:06

I'm 40 weeks tomorrow and my advice is enjoy sleeping on your back now 😂 to turn over in bed I have to get out and get back in bed again. It's a right old kerfuffle. I sleep on whatever side I can nod off on, as my hips go dead after about 10 mins.

peachypetite · 29/05/2020 06:07

Get a pregnancy pillow. There’s a reasonably priced one on Asda.

Valentinx · 29/05/2020 06:14

Totally agree with the other ladies. My midwife literally tells me at every app 'keep sleeping on your left side' and even though I try it's just not that easy! I end up sleeping on both my left and right as I physically just cannot stay on my left all night.

wannabebump · 29/05/2020 06:55

I was struggling with this too. One of the leaflets I was given from the midwife said to sleep your left side from 20 weeks (ideally left, right also acceptable, just not flat on your back) and I'm a back sleeper so I wanted to try and break myself in gently. I bought an L shaped maternity pillow and it's made a huge difference.x

Pinkblueberry · 29/05/2020 07:02

Is there official advice on this? My midwife never told me this. I was aware that sleeping on your back isn’t ideal - but then I’d always go to sleep on my side and wake up on my back. As pp said, by they third trimester when it’s hard to get comfy you’ll find that this advice is completely useless, if you follow it to a tee it will be a case of no sleep at all which I doubt is beneficial either. I didn’t have a bump until I was about 17 weeks and slept on my front until then. No point trying to get used to not doing this as there will just come a point where you simply can’t.

SpecialKakapo · 29/05/2020 07:40

I was told by my midwife that left and right are both totally fine for safety, just don't sleep on your back (NB this only applies to later on in pregnancy so OP is fine at the moment).

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/tiredness-sleep-pregnant/

At my antenatal classes they said sleeping on left is preferable in later pregnancy to encourage the baby into a good position for birth.. so not a safety issue, just helpful.

BlackKittyKat · 29/05/2020 08:09

I could have written this.

I slept on my back most nights up until about 30 weeks. I was really worried and spoke to my midwife and she said (if I remember correctly) the reason for not sleeping on your back is that the weight of your uterus compresses a major artery. She said that I would wake up and want to move position well before my baby was affected and not to worry.

Even in the last trimester, I would wake up on my back. I had SPD and really struggled lying on my side. I was told to prop myself up so that my back was at a 45 degree angle and then there wouldn't be pressure on the artery and I could safely sleep on my back. I started doing this from about 35weeks.

I went in to have a very healthy baby.

I hope this helps and reassures you a little.

I would also advise that if you have hip pain early, ask for a referral for physio so you can get advice on exercises to help you.

Good luck in your pregnancy.

RoseGoldEagle · 29/05/2020 08:12

I think for most people the risk is absolutely tiny if you sleep on your right, and made even tinier by sleeping on your left- so not a huge issue either way, think back sleeping is a slightly higher risk. II think weight etc comes into it too. I naturally sleep on my right, and even if I make myself lie on my left I usually roll over when I’m asleep!

Cat339 · 29/05/2020 08:17

I slept on my right hand side the whole way through- every single night and have a lovely healthy 6 month old. Please don’t worry- as previous posters have stated it’s not really an issue which side as long as you avoid sleeping on your back once you get into your third trimester

MichelleOR84 · 29/05/2020 10:39

I wouldn’t worry as you are so early on . I found as I got bigger my preference for sleep positions changed anyway so no point stressing too much about it now .

By the way , sleeping on the right is still perfectly safe . Left is meant to be better but I honestly wouldn’t go out of my way to sleep on my left side if it wasn’t comfortable.

mouse1234567 · 29/05/2020 11:46

I go to sleep on my left but toss between left and right all night -as long as side it’s fine in third tri . It’s a bit of a nightmare when you are used to back or front! Good luck!

IndigoJam · 29/05/2020 12:40

I cannot sleep on my left side. I just can't do it and I slept on my right all the way through my pregnancy, my daughter was also lying on the left hand side and everything was fine. No problems at all. Pregnancy is hard enough without getting less sleep due to sleeping postions, sleep in whatever way makes you most comfortable and gives you the best sleep

Original poster
Shanlou12 · 29/05/2020 12:52

Thanks all! Been 4 years since I had my last and I’m sure I used to sleep on both just when you read stuff and start to panic you think oh god hahah!! @Pinkblueberry I’m not too bothered that much about sleeping on my tummy it’s my back mainly! And also although I’m only 10+3 it’s my second and I have a very very noticeable belly already hahah Blush

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Original poster
Shanlou12 · 29/05/2020 12:54

Thanks @BlackKittyKat if it gets worse I might but I think it’s just purely from laying on on my side My hips are not used to it ahh!
And all of you who have mentioned pregnancy pillows I am currently looking to buy one Smile I’m just very wary of spending money and buying things before 12 week scan

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