Should you sleep on your left side or back?

[K2012]

Hi ladies

Currently 13 weeks pregnant and I’m confused should you sleep on your left side or back?

Can anyone recommend a good pregnant pillow? Thank you in advance

I really struggled with sleeping positions as I'm a front sleeper. Midwife told me that it's ok till about 24 weeks to be on front or back but after that on your side (I believe left is ideal but either is ok). It basically took me till 23 weeks to master not sleeping on my front and even now at 25 weeks I still wake up at times on my back although I fall asleep on my side but not a lot I can do about that as I'm asleep!
I tried several different pillows and the only one I have got on with at all is bbhugme- very expensive though. However in recent days I have found it actually annoys me more and I'm better without any pillow!

Left side ideally but fine on both.
I never slept on my back or front from the day I found out I was preg 🙈 and it kicked me in the face in labour as the MW laid me down and I vomited everywhere, she said you havent lay on your back for awhile have you?.... nope!

I didn't like any pregnancy pillows so just used two normal ones

Ideally left side, something to do with blood flow but you're ok on right side just avoid back and in fairness tummy would probably be out of the question even if you wanted to

Not on your back, the weight of your uterus can put pressure on major arteries and cause problems with blood flow, worst case scenario causing miscarriage or stillbirth.

Sleeping on your left side is said to aid digestion, but either side is safe and fine.

@ArtfulScreamer

Ideally left side, something to do with blood flow but you're ok on right side just avoid back and in fairness tummy would probably be out of the question even if you wanted to

Yep even as someone who has slept on their front everyday from the day I was born my body started to tell me at 23 weeks that it was comfortable and now at 25 I couldn't if I tried although in the night when I try to resettle I do automatically find myself turning that way!

Why are you confused?

The advice is to sleep on you left side from second trimester I think (would need to check the timing) but either side is fine but back isnt.

I used to switch sides through the night when uncomfortable.

whatever you find comfortable.
I know someone who slept on her front until about 7m with belly in a "well" formed by a blow up donut & pillows 😁
her babies were just fine.

lying on your left side is the most advised position but honestly it doesn't matter much whether you sleep on your back or propped up or right side or whatever.
I used to swap between positions and on many nights I'd fall asleep on the sofa in a half-sitting position which was terrible for my pubis symphasis (sp?) but I couldn't fall asleep any other way.

From what I've read, I think technically it's just back sleeping once in the 3rd trimester you aren't supposed to do - as a couple of studies have linked it with an increased risk of still birth then (but I'm not sure exactly how much of an increased risk). But it's apparently okay until that point? And left side sleeping is just a bonus as it might increase the blood flow even more - but they don't say it's dangerous to sleep on your right side that I can find? (and they don't seem to mention stomach sleeping at all!).

Like pp I'm a tummy sleeper too and now at 24 weeks it's getting too uncomfortable (he sometimes moves more then as well - I think he's telling me I'm squishing him!). I can't seem to get on with pregnancy pillows either - wrapping my arms around them/ having it between my legs feels so unnatural. I'm personally going to try an ordinary pillow again wedged under my side/belly, but if not I'll just have to keep swopping sides during the night in discomfort - and hope I don't keep waking up having accidentally slept on my stomach !

Left hand side.
Dream genie pillow was great- not too big but tbf any pillow under your bump and between your legs will feel great

The advice is sleep on your left side. Don’t sleep on your back.
Why are you confused? What have you been reading?

I had this problem as often slept on my back & front. My midwife said front was fine to start with but would soon get uncomfortable once bump starts growing. Another midwife told me at 16 weeks that sleeping on my back was fine for then however i have started to sleep on my left hand side.

I bought a pregnancy pillow which has helped alot. It one that has a small support behind you to stop you rolling then a bit you lie on then another one that goes across your bump and put the long bit between your legs. Its amazing and ive been sleeping so much better since having it as it stopped my hips aching when sleeping on my side. This is the pillow i have :)