How dangerous is it to sleep on the right side while pregnant?

[Motherof1and2dogs]

So I find it so much more comfortable sleeping on my right side, I am 32 weeks pregnant with my second and I am much bigger this time round with more aches and pains. I have heard and read that we should sleep on the left hand side and avoid right side and back, how true is this, is it a myth? It’s so hard to get comfortable as it is, so to be stuck to one side sucks! I do switch it up but I prefer to spend more time on the right side.
I am an anxious person hence why I am asking on here to see what others say, think and would do. If of course left side is proven to be safer, I will take that over being comfortable any day!

I think the best thing of all is not to stay in one position for too long. The risk you're trying to mitigate is cutting off circulation to the womb and so on.

I wouldn't worry too much, your body will keep you moving around at night. Pregnancy insomnia is a thing for a reason...!

My midwife said to avoid sleeping on your back, something about the weight putting pressure on blood vessels. I thought either side was fine 😬

Left is best as it allows the best blood flow. But as long as you're not on your back it's ok.

I went to a physio information session and they said either side is fine and to avoid sleeping on your back where possible. I've been swapping sides because I wake up most hours uncomfortable and need to turn over to the other side!

It's not dangerous. The 'left side only' advice is outdated. Either side is fine. Just not on your back. Have a good night's sleep 😊

My high risk OB has said it’s fine to sleep however. He said your body will naturally wake you up if something is wrong. I don’t intentionally go to bed on my back but he said not to stress at all if I woke up on my back, and either side was fine to go to sleep.

It's not dangerous. I think left side is just optimum for good circulation and back is worst for cutting off circulation. But the chances of sleeping all night through in one position without being woken up by needing to turn due to discomfort are incredibly unlikely! I'm 37 weeks and cannot remember the last time I slept all night through. Achy pelvis and dead arms wake me up nightly and I have to switch between left and right. Occasionally wake up on my back too. Baby is wriggling as we speak - they're happy as Larry after a good night's kip (unlike me 😂)

Starting the night (i.e. intentionally sleeping) on your back is discouraged due to strong evidence linking to stillbirth.

The evidence for sleeping on the left side is less conclusive.

Info from Tommy's here: https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/im-pregnant/sleep-side/sleep-position-pregnancy-qa

Persinally, I slept on my right side the most (during 3 pregnancies) as I struggle to sleep on my left and my midwives were fine with it.

is there any actual evidence for that?

when I asked the midwife she couldn't tell me and I couldn't find anything online. mind you, that was quite a few years ago.

I’ve had three babies and I’ve never heard about this. Anyway, when you are asleep, you turn over without knowing what side you are on.

The research isn't conclusive, so there's currently no hugely compelling reason to sleep on your left:

"One of the smaller research studies, from Auckland, New Zealand, showed that women who sleep on their left side on the last night of pregnancy halved their risk of stillbirth compared to those who slept on their right. However, the same finding has not been seen in any other trial (there have been three other published research studies since then)."

www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/im-pregnant/sleep-side/sleep-position-pregnancy-qa

Either side is fine.

I slept on my back for most of my pregnancy, it was recommended due to the severe pelvic pain and previous nerve damage in my shoulder. I had an extra pillow to make sure I was propped up and not lying totally flat. There are going to be risks associated to everything you do in pregnancy and when baby is here so it's just about managing them as best you can or accepting a small level of risk.