sleeping positions when pregnant

[SalBySea]

hi

I am 19 weeks and have a little bump but am still quite comfortable sleeping on my tummy - is it okay to continue doing this for as long as it's comfortable or is there a cut off point?

Also, I heard that at a certain amt of weeks you are supposed to stop lying on your back - something to do with the weight restricting the blood supply to you legs? can anyone shed more light on that one for me?

cheers x

hey,

you're right - they say to stop sleeping/lying on your back from 30 weeks as the weight of your uterus can put pressure on your spine/spinal cord/blood flow.

i am 31 weeks and am still sleeping/lying on my back - until I start feeling faint or dizzy on my back I'm going to keep doing it.

but more importantly i have been told to sleep on my left side from 30 weeks but have really tried to get into the habit from about 16/18 weeks. it helps the baby to get into the correct position to fit around your internal organs, when the baby gets a bit bigger, and also so that for the birth they will come out correctly as the baby rotates through the birth process.

sorry if i haven't explained this very well - but i had my 31 week appt last week and the doctor told me my baby was head down which means all the positions must be doing something right.

i think you'll know when you're uncomfortable on your tummy - i long to be able to lie on my tummy watching tv again!

Basically you will both get to a point where you are the size of a small car and you need a lot of cushions and still can't get comfy. At which point, pillow between your legs, one on your back, one under your bump and one under your neck. Or if you are me twelve strategically positioned to keep you comfy for the six minutes between trips to the loo

wmmc

Sal - you'll knwo when you can no longer lie in either of these positions.

Lying flat can compress the vena cava (I think!!) which can make you feel dizzy. I never felt this with my first pregnancy, but I have exerienced it from about 30 weeks this time.

Lying on your left is meant to encourage baby into optimum position, but to be honest - as wmmc says - any position you can get into to give you a few minutes housr sleep is good for you

I am at 5 pillows (33wks) but last time I made it to 11 last pregnancy...wmmc, you win!

You'll get indigestion if you lie on your right anyway.

When I was the size of a small car family saloon I used to fantasise about being suspended in a thick jelly in space so every part of me was supported and I could move easily in to any position.

Vena cava - the only sparkling wine bit of pregnancy

you're making me mistrust my memory...or maybe it was my subconscious speaking

No you are right, I was just laughing at the thought of it!

oh I am glad to see this thread! have a stupid wonky hip which means lying on my left all night is painful enough to wake me up (as if the weeing wasn't doing that often enough) but thought I should avoid my tummy which is still relatively comfy. Glad to know I can still get away with that for a bit...

I had one of those long pillow things which was fantastic I sort of lent on it, and put one leg on top of it ! anyway was fab and really helped used it then for feeding dc's when born !

can't WAIT to have baby and sleep on my Tummy again, be magic!

Started getting into the routine of sleeping on my side from about 18 weeks, as it really is a good idea for those belly sleepers like me! A maternity pillow helps encourage this, as you can sort of cuddle it.

Sleep Full stop is hard once you get bigger. So uncomfy & numerous toilet trips!

can't WAIT to have baby and sleep on my Tummy again, be magic!

Started getting into the routine of sleeping on my side from about 18 weeks, as it really is a good idea for those belly sleepers like me! A maternity pillow helps encourage this, as you can sort of cuddle it.

Sleep Full stop is hard once you get bigger. So uncomfy & numerous toilet trips!