Sleep position paranoia!

[charcb]

I'm 32 weeks. Since the third trimester I've been making an effort to sleep on my side as advised. Whilst I fall asleep on my side with no issues very soon when I wake up I realise I'm on my back. They say you spend most time in the position you fall asleep in but typically not the case with me as sometimes I wake up soon after and I'm on my back! My midwife said that as long as I use a pillow and I'm not totally flat on the back it's fine. I'm worried I'm restricting blood flow to baby. Contrary to what I read online it's not uncomfortable at all for me to lie on my back. Wish it was! Tried pregnancy pillows but I don't find them as comfy as sleeping without one. Maybe I should try to persevere with that? What's your views on sleeping position?

I am pregnant with number 3 and with my first 2, was really 'strict' about my sleeping position, but this time around, keep waking up flat on my back.

For various reasons, I had an appointment with a fetal medicine specialist the other day and asked him about it. He basically laughed it off and said if my sleeping position was a problem, it would wake me. And if it didn't wake me, it wasn't a problem, so it wasn't something I should worry about.

Tie your hair in a low bun.... sounds really silly but for me it makes a huge difference x

Agree with the bun point! I do that and never wake up on back!

Hi @charcb I can completely relate! I am currently 25+4 and have been trying to train myself to sleep on my left side for weeks! Like you, I always seem to wake up on my back and it doesn't feel uncomfortable to me either. I have a pregnancy pillow which I was using but have stopped because I find that it invades my space so maybe I need a different one!
I seem to be improving a little due to my bump getting bigger (and heavier!). I spoke to my midwife and she said that if I wake up on my back then to just roll back on to my left side. Maybe do a bit of research on some more pillows if it is concerning you as you can get so many different ones, maybe different style ones would benefit you a little more? I also like the tying your hair in a low bun idea suggested by previous posters!

Thank you ladies! I do have a pillow but don't like how it restricts my movement and I also don't find it as comfy as sleeping without :( I'll try the low bun idea!

I have a pillow (just a normal one) behind my back so that when I roll onto my back I have that behind me so my I'm not flat on the mattress. When I spoke to my midwife about it she said that I would be affected by being on my back (i.e. dizzy/faint) before it affected the baby.

Could you get a wedge pillow to put behind you so when you go to roll over it stops you? Or try propping yourself on pillows on your back so you're not flat. I read that it's only an issue if you yourself feel breathless. I had a u shape pillow with another pillow on top so I could have one side between my knees and the other I could rest back on, it was from Kally sleep

I am only 4 weeks and also paranoid about this... Is this something I should be worrying about yet? (I'm a first time expectant Mum and am not sure what advice I should be listening to and what I shouldn't be doing)

@hporter10 you can sleep on your back pretty much up until some point in the second trimester depending on bump size and your comfort. You'll be absolutely fine for now 🙂

It's funny how things change. When I was pregnant years ago nobody said anything to me at all about sleeping positions! I always sleep on my side anyway, cannot sleep on my back, but didn't realise that was the preferred option during pregnancy.

I'm sure you'll be fine, op.

[quote Fleetw00d]@hporter10 you can sleep on your back pretty much up until some point in the second trimester depending on bump size and your comfort. You'll be absolutely fine for now 🙂[/quote]
Thank you! I did wonder whether this was the case

Glad to know that many reported their health care providers saying this doesn't actually have an incidence and that you'd know if you were hurting the baby. Thanks all! 😊