Help! 20 weeks pregnant, keep waking up on my back

[danielasummer]

I'm usually a back sleeper but have been making an effort since 10 weeks to sleep on my side, but I keep waking up maybe 7-8 times a night and find myself on my back, which I know isn't great for baby. Any advice please?

I've been doing this too and I worry about it too much, so it's disturbing my sleep. I've read a bit about it and apparently as long as you go to sleep on your side it's really not an issue if you wake up on your back. Also, apparently it's more of an issue later down the line (I'm 23 weeks). Sorry that's not more helpful but you're not the only one worrying!

Yeah im 29 weeks now and spoke to my midwife about it and she was a little concerned being later down the line, I'm trying everything to keep on my side, a pillow along my back is the biggest help x

Hi OP! I wouldn't worry too much at the moment as baby is still quite small but you do need to try and sleep on your side throughout the night and the best way is to get yourself a pregnancy pillow. If you buy one that is decent and wraps round your whole body then it stops you from rolling onto your back, as you can only get so far without the pillow stopping you.
Amazon sell some brilliant pillows. I've had mine since the start of my second trimester and cost me £45 and it's worth every penny!

You need a pregnancy pillow.
direct.asda.com/george/baby/hospital-list/kinder-valley-12ft-maternity-pillow/050297393,default,pd.html?cgid=D5M12G1C1

@Trufflepuffpuff @lockdownpregnancy @Indigogirl88 @peachypetite thank you for your replies. I have a pregnancy pillow from Amazon but it's not great, it's comfortable but doesn't stop me from rolling onto my back, so I've just bought this one www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0828WWC2T/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8 which will hopefully stop me from rolling over in the night. It's stressing me out far too much! @lockdownpregnancy is this the one you bought too? Thanks again everyone x

I had this problem with DC1, after working myself up about it I spoke to the midwife who said the important part was falling asleep on your side and not to worry. Every time you wake up in the night, just roll back to sleeping on your left side.

I’m pregnant again now (early weeks) and gutted I’ve got to go back to side sleeping

@CouldIBeAnymoreTired it's so hard isn't it.. I get a dead arm and leg cramps when I sleep on my side which isn't ideal so I just wake up so much in the night (combined with the need to wee.. I'm pretty exhausted in the day!)

Also just remembering what my midwife told me at 16 weeks - she said the evidence bounces back and forth between side sleeping, so it's fine to sleep however is comfortable, but I'm sure she's wrong as I've spoken to so many people and read so much online about how sleeping on your side (especially your left) is safer for baby.. I wish we'd all get the same advice from our midwives!

Ive never been told by any health professional that I need to sleep on my side, so I assume it's not as big deal as we think it is, or it would be told to us over and over again just like they do with monitoring movements. I try and sleep on my side but every now and again I do sleep on my back for a bit. I'm 32 weeks. Tbh it starts getting uncomfortable sleeping on your back anyway because of the weight of your belly. I wouldn't worry too much.

Everything I've seen says don't worry if you wake up on your back as long as you've gone to sleep on your side. It happens to me as well - I'm also 20 weeks.

3rd pregnancy here and I've mostly slept on my back!!

Funny thing is I ALWAYS sleep on my side but pregnant I'm comfortable on my back.

Unless you have problems it should be fine.

Is it your first?? Big advice: whenever anyone gives you any advice think whether it's going to disturb your sleep. You need to sleep!!!!

@danielasummer that's the one I've got! Or it's extremely similar!
Honestly OP they are game changer when you buy the right one. I can't live without mine!
Even considering using it after baby is born it's that comfy! Haha! 🤪🤪

@danielasummer I agree with @grey12 and that's pretty much what midwives have said to me.ove the years. As you know this will be my 3rd pregnancy beyond 20 weeks and every one I constantly wake on my back especially after thirty weeks during the night. I right myself with my pillow every time and go on my side, and all has been well and as I said, no concerns from anyone about it. Most health professionals have said that being on my back is no doubt the thing that is waking me so the fact your waking up is a good thing as you can turn over. You've no doubt been only on it for a small amount of time. I honestly think it's one fo those things that either happens to you or doesn't, and even with a good pillow it just keeps happening to me with every pregnancy so your probably in the same boat. Just roll and snooze lovely 💜

@UrsulaSings my midwife didn't seem too concerned, I think I just read it online and in my 'What to expect' book so it kind of panicked me. I'm getting better at sleeping on my side, just keep waking up randomly on my back and the leg cramps - ooooh the leg cramps!!

@110APiccadilly glad to know I'm not the only one although it's annoying isn't it?!

@grey12 yes it's my first. It's so uncomfortable on my side but hopefully it will become normal as the pregnancy progresses. I don't know how much of a big deal it is as my midwife didn't seem concerned at all!

@lockdownpregnancy I can't wait for it to arrive tomorrow! The other one will be demoted to the sofa for day time naps :)

@ChampooPapi you are my pregnancy guru so I will take your advice and not panic! Hopefully the new pillow will sort it out and put my mind at ease.. why are there so many things to think about!

Glad I'm not the only one having issues with this. I dread going to sleep every night as hate sleeping on my side.
My midwife said if you really can't manage it, propping your back up on lots of pillows and sleeping semi upright is ok. I've been doing this with the aid of a horseshoe shaped pregnancy pillow around me and it's nicer

Don't worry, chances are you haven't spent a lot of time on your back. It could potentially be more of a problem in the 3rd trimester, but you usually wake up not long after you roll on your back. Now at 35 weeks I definitely can't stay on my back for long because the weight of the bump is making it unpleasant, so I'm alarmed instantly if it does happen!

For me personally, a little wedge pillow was a game changer and works better than those big pillows that go all around my body. I've got Little Chick wedge one. I put it under my bump when I'm on either right or left side + a small standard pillow between my legs. Before this, the weight of the bump while being on my side was almost unbearable, I was sleeping really poorly once I got past 28 weeks or so.

Now at 35 weeks I sleep better than in earlier weeks, lol! I tried putting a standard pillow behind my back to prevent rolling away, but I don't do it anymore, I think I got used to the little wedge alone and it makes me comfortable enough not to roll. I just change the position from my left to my right (which I find better because of baby's position) a few times a night. I find that the weight is usually preventing me from staying on the same side the whole night.

So don't worry, finding the right sleeping position and pillow is definitely a work in progress and it can change a lot as your pregnancy progresses.