Blessed to be pregnant. How important is it to sleep on left side please? Now have 2 pregnancy pillows and can't do it.

[Music1]

Feel so blessed to be pregnant. However, I've been advised to sleep on my left and struggle to do this. I've always been a back sleeper. So far I've been bought a huge 9ft U shaped pillow. I tried this for 2 weeks and ended up waking in the middle on my back feeling like I'm squashed between a hotdog roll, and 1 night with a completely dead arm, shoulder etc on my left side. Felt like the circulation in my left side had been cut off.

My other half just bought Dream Genii pillow and although so much better I just lay there feeling like I'm 'stuck' and my left hip gives me so much pain. I eventually throw it out of the be in the early hours. I'm waking up grumpy, in pain and angry at other half who ends up on his left side in a perfect position looking cosy and comfy.... which makes me want to wake him up.

How important is it to lay on the left side and for the whole night or ?

Could I try and sleep upright ?

Many thanks all.

[pinkie93]

This will give you some numbers:

nursingtimes.net/roles/midw...

I tend to sleep on my left side but rolled forward, so I'm partly on my belly and that is comfortable for me. Although I am only 23 weeks and not sure how much longer I'll be able to do this.

[Music1 in reply to pinkie93]

Thanks for this. I'm 23 weeks as well, and finding it really tough to keep still and lay in one position. I worry about ending up on my tummy and squashing little one. Thanks for info. Wishing you all the best with the rest of your pregnancy x

[pinkie93 in reply to Music1]

I was worried about that too (lying on my stomach), but the midwifes all said it was completely safe as long as I'm comfortable. Basically if baby is squashed then your organs will be extra squashed and it'll be very uncomfortable!

But I'd say stick at trying to sleep on your left side, like you, I struggled a lot at first but it's easy now.

[Music1 in reply to pinkie93]

Ok will keep at it. Thanks loads x

[Annh17]

I lay on my belly and I missed it so much when pregnant, I had too have a c section, so had too wait even longer.

I got a pregnancy pillow, which I swear by, I still use it now and LG is 5weeks. I was never told too sleep on left side, just read about it. So I did try, but I swapped sides all night long and even ended up sleeping sitting up/on back and it never harmed my LG.

People still lay on they tummy all throughout pregnancy, as long as your comfortable x

[Music1 in reply to Annh17]

Thanks for your reply. I do have 2 pregnancy pillows but laying on my hip gets so painful. I end up sleeping almost sitting upright or not sleeping at night and crashing during the day ... on my back which I worry about. Thanks for telling me your LG is alright. I've opted for c section as well. Many thanks x

[Annh17 in reply to Music1]

I used too get hip pain aswell, with all the added weight, that’s why ended up sitting up.

I had no choice really, was told baby is going to be very large and was the safest option for me and baby. x

[Music1 in reply to Annh17]

Thanks for your reply. I tried again last night with the dream genie pillow and after finally dropping off I got 2 hours and woke in pain around 3am. I tried to get back to sleep after that but decided to sit semi upright all night. Thank you for letting me know that you were ok to do that. I've heard nothing from midwife. x

[romaluna2015]

I didn’t always sleep on my left side and I was pregnant with twins . But it’s how your most comfortable

[Music1 in reply to romaluna2015]

Thank you x

[lou121087]

I start on my left side but like you my hips start to hurt so I have to roll over to my right side, I find putting a pillow behind my back so I can lean back a bit helps as I can't sleep on my back, if not I sleep in the recovery position with a pillow under my leg and if I squish baby she let's me know lol. I'm 34wks now and sleeping is just getting worse and as soon as I'm comfortable I need to toilet lol. Hope you find something that helps x

[Music1 in reply to lou121087]

Thanks. I do start on my left side but being trapped in the pregnancy pillow I find it quite tough to get out of bed without falling, as I can't move the pillow if I'm laying on the middle part. 34wks.... gosh, it's such a long time. I think I'll try and stick with it and hopefully find something that works. x

[Olivia1980xxx]

I sleep all my pregnancy on left side because is better for u us the pregnancy grow .

Because your liver is on the right side of your abdomen, lying on your left side helps keep the uterus off that large organ. Sleeping on the left side also improves circulation to the heart and allows for the best blood flow to the fetus, uterus, and kidneys.

The best sleep position during pregnancy is “SOS” (sleep on side). Even better is to sleep on your left side. Sleeping on your left side will increase the amount of blood and nutrients that reach the placenta and your baby. Keep your legs and knees bent, and put a pillow between your legs. Xx

[Music1 in reply to Olivia1980xxx]

Thanks Olivia. I will keep trying as I know it's important. Thank you for letting me know why x

[Olivia1980xxx in reply to Music1]

It’s ok hun . Xx

[ChrisWest1983]

I think you try your best but at the end it is what it is.

If it was sooooooo important to be on left side then I suppose as human beings we would have died out long ago as in the stone age noone knew about benefits of sleeping on left side. (Even my mum did not know and had 5 healthy pregnancies)

[Music1]

Thanks ChrisWest1983, I've been getting quite upset by it and it sounds stupid but dreading going to bed at night. I feel rubbish that my other half has spent so much on a pillow that I just kick out of bed. I've been through so much to get this pregnancy - ttc for 7 years and have started to get stressed about the poss of stillbirth if I can't do something simple like stay on my side etc. Thanks for telling me about your mum and her preg being fine. Appreciate your thoughts... I'm sure you're right. x

[ChrisWest1983 in reply to Music1]

Congratulations on your pregnancy! 🎉

How far are you?

This is my second pregnancy and currently I am 21w. I have 2 sleeping pillows, but I find them uncomfortable therefore I don't use them. Sometimes I use small pillow to put between my knees, to be more comfortable.

What stops me from sleeping on my back is my baby. Same as my first - they just don't like when I am on my back as they start to move and kick and don't let me sleep (which is perfect for kick count later on- 10 kicks in 1 minute and done)

I hope the gravity will soon take its course and you'll find it hard to be on your back because of bumps weight and you will soundly sleep on your sides! 🙏

[Music1 in reply to ChrisWest1983]

Hi, I'm 23 weeks tomorrow. Huge congrats on your pregnancy/ second pregnancy. This is my first and to be honest I haven't felt a thing yet which is quite worrying but the 20wk scan showed little one moving away non stop - I didn't feel a thing.

I guess that's the prob. My bump isn't that big at the moment (or not as big as I think it should be) therefore gravity isn't tipping me on my side. I will try and keep a pillow between my knees. Gosh my right knee was so painful today I could barely walk (whether it's related to the uncomf sleeping or just age lol). Wish my little one would kick. My other half keeps looking at my belly and saying "kick mummy". We've got some pretty odd looks out and about Thanks for your reply and goodluck with the rest of your pregnancy. You're a pro now, so you know what's coming x

[ChrisWest1983 in reply to Music1]

With my first the bump appeared quite late as well. With my second it appeared the week I did the pregnancy test 🙈

Maybe you have placenta at the front as a cushion so you can't feel / see the kicks.

Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy and keep us updated!x

[Music1 in reply to ChrisWest1983]

Wow, you had a bump so soon with your second baby. I feel quite sad and emotional when I went to my last scan - I was the only one sitting in the waiting room without an obvious bump. I'm wearing small T.shirts now to make it stand out more Thanks.... hope to keep you posted x

[ChrisWest1983 in reply to Music1]

With my first it properly appeared around w25.

But with this baby - it did push my intestines weirdly that I was sooooooo bloated at the beginning that I looked straight away 5m pregnant 😂

Don't worry - bump will appear and those kicks one day probably won't let you even have a decent sleep at night.

Hope you'll have a good night's sleep tonight!!!x

[Music1 in reply to ChrisWest1983]

Thanks for reassurance and some hope. I don't have another scan booked till wk30. Hoping I'll see or feel a kick soon x

[ChrisWest1983 in reply to Music1]

For your own peace of mind- you can always pop into pop-in-clinic: they can quickly check baby's heartbeat to tell that everything is going right!

Maybe the placenta is just cushioning the movements. Mine is laying front but high, so I feel basically all kicks.

Then again: I am quite hyper active person and so is my firstborn - and looks this one will be the same ...

My sister in law hardly ever felt her baby, my brother had no chance to feel his daughter moving in the uterus as baby was so calm... And baby is now 3 yo and still calm ❤️

[Music1 in reply to ChrisWest1983]

Hi, hadn't thought of pop-in-clinic. Didn't think they could do things like that. Thanks may do next wk. Little one was moving around quite a bit last night ( I could feel them) so I guess it was their way of telling me I was laying on their head or crushing them in the pillow etc. What you way about the activity makes perfect sense. Whether this one is calm or hyper, I just hope I can keep up with them and be one step ahead with the energy. Bless you, thank you for your reassurance and things I can relate to x

[Cedrada]

Its important not to lay on your back, as this can cut off blood supply to baby. Beyond that, sleep how you are comfy.

I have a normal pillow I wedge behind me, either right or left depending on how I'm feeling, just to stop me rolling over on my back.

[Music1 in reply to Cedrada]

Thank you. I will keep trying. I'm comfy on my back and always have been a back sleeper - just something I will have to change now x

[Pinky333]

Personally I think restful sleep is most important.

I sleep mainly on my right side. I did during my last pregnancy too.

Just go with how you're comfortable. Maybe try laying on your left for short periods to build up getting used to it.

[Music1 in reply to Pinky333]

Thanks pinky will give it a go. I think I'd do better on my right. So far my left hip and right knee hate me, but I know it's important x

[Babypud19]

My midwife told me its fine to be on your back as long as you're propped up and not flat out. If you think about the beds in the Drs surgery that have you propped up at one end, that was the find of incline she said was ok. She did also say not to worry too much about cutting off blood supply to baby as I would feel the effects of it way before the baby, so if you start to feel a bit light headed in that position then you need to move. She also said sleeping on your left side isn't necessary until much later on in the pregnancy into 30+ weeks. Having always been a front sleeper I've been trying to train myself to sleep on my side but I do toss and turn a fair bit so am doing a half and half side/front sleep at the moment until it gets uncomfortable. I know it's frustrating not being able to sleep. I always remember my best friend telling me that pregnancy is what prepares you for the lack of sleep when baby arrives!

[Music1 in reply to Babypud19]

Thanks sob. My midwife has only seen me once at 12wks, she hasn't told me anything, and being my first and older it's hard to know what not to do as I'm so worried I will get it wrong and as you say "cut off blood supply etc". I'm hoping little bump will start making some moves soon. At 23 wks I'm still not feeling anything so that doesn't help or offer me any reassurance. I think I'll have to train myself like you - much respect that you managed that. Had a chuckle at your last comment. Hoping the baby crying will be payback for other half snoring which keeps me awake whilst he's in deep sleep Thank you for your kind words x

[Babypud19 in reply to Music1]

Where do you live?? I've seen my midwife at 8 and 16 weeks, next time is 24 weeks, I didn't realise other people didn't see their midwife as often. That sucks as she has been great at answering questions however silly and making sure I know what I need to at each stage. Madness nd so unfair that people get such different services.

[Babypud19]

Also if it's your first you may not feel anything until 24 weeks. I would say if you don't by then get checked out. The midwife also told me that if I haven't felt it by 20 weeks to watch it move at the scan and see if I can link the movements I'm seeing to feelings in my tum as often you don't realise that what you're feeling is the baby moving as they're not kicks until much later, more like fluttering or bubbles popping. Xx

[kayakintam]

I'd recommend splashing out on a really comfy mattress if you can stretch to it. Got a simba and it helped so much. I also didn't get on with the pregnancy pillow at first but now I just use half of it (so I'm outside of the u shape) and cuddle it with my arms and legs. This works for me. Good luck!

[Music1 in reply to kayakintam]

I wish we could get a new mattress. Kind of worried though, that I sleep/ we both sleep really well on the mattress we have under normal circumstances and when I sleep on my back. I feel bad that I've been bought 2 pregnancy pillows that wasn't cheap and I still don't get on with them. I tried the U shape in various ways - hotdog, hugging just one side with the other on the floor and I found I could stay like that 'hugging it' until I fell asleep then I must have let go and rolled back again. I'm going to persist with the 'Genii one from John Lewis, but this morning I woke up with every thing aching in my body. I can't believe this is so hard for me. This is something they don't tell you when you try to get pregnant etc, Lol. Tempted to try the sofa as if I sleep with my back to the backrest I may have no choice but to stay like that Thanks for your advice and best wishes x

[laurafig]

There would be no way I could stick to one side to sleep on. I love turning at the best of times and as you say I would ache if I didn’t move. Who can stay still in bed?!

I also love sleeping on my back and through this site I did read people saying you shouldn’t do this but I didnt know why. I also saw some people advicing against having bath because of laying back which I thought was crazy and at the beginning of my pregnancy I could only bathe as showering made me physically sick....

After a bit of googling and visiting the NHS website it basically said that whilst for many reasons it might not be as comfortable to sleep on your back, but there was no evidence that it caused any kind of issue or stillbirth (as the is the fear).

I can only assume if your comfortable sleeping, so will be your baby? I also think there is lots of scare mongering with shoulds and shouldn’ts.

If you’re worried speak to your midwife, but other than that I would just make sure you’re comfortable, with enough sleep and feeling positive about the your baby. Your body is your babies home and both YOU and your baby are important so don’t forget that!!

[Music1 in reply to laurafig]

Thanks Laura, I really struggle just to stay on one side still. I gave it another go last night and woke around 4am with hip pain and aching. I decided to try and sleep upright. Thanks for your thoughts and advice. I can't stay still in bed lol. Appreciate your best wishes. I'm thinking a good nights sleep is better than staying awake and being so uncomfortable etc. Best wishes x

[laurafig in reply to Music1]

No problem. I just really feel for you!

Out of curiosity, who advised the left sided sleeping only? Was it your midwife/doctor?

[Music1 in reply to laurafig]

It was the midwife I saw at my 12wk scan. I hadn't seen a midwife by then and was worried as they couldn't do some of the Edwards and Downs tests (they said a mw should have spoken with me about the implications). The sonographer asked someone from the dept to come down and speak with me (to assure me I would have a midwife soon). I didn't worry too much to begin with as I didn't have even a small bump back then. I don't have a doctor as such, just different locums that come through the surgery and you can never get an apt anyhow. x

[Lilmossy]

I struggled to sleep on my left side for a while as I’ve always been a lying on my stomach kinda person they say to sleep on ur left side because it helps increase the blood flow to baby, I know how you feel I wake up with bad hips and shoulders I’m currently having hydrotherapy with my hips, spg sucks! They say a pillow in between your knees helps keep your hips aligned when u sleep I also have a pillow propt behind my back so I can lie off my side a bit which help ease the discomfort, I have a pregnancy pillow but I don’t like them they are long n I feel like I’m fighting with a giant sausage and quilt and it agitates me. Ohh well 2w5d left for me! I hope u find it easier soon

[Lilmossy in reply to Lilmossy]

I also rely on my boyfriends hips if I throw my one leg on him it’s soo comfy it takes the weight off ur hips abit although he does moan when he wakes up he has a dead hip,😂

[Music1 in reply to Lilmossy]

Awwww dead hip lol 😂 They've got it easy. My other half is a total wiggle worm some/ most days. I've seen everything from starfish, running man position, laying comfy on his left (which hacks me off), right, back, stomach. I'm sure he turns over loads in his sleep. I'm not sure I could get off the huge pillow to throw my leg over him lol x

[Music1 in reply to Lilmossy]

lol fighting with a sausage and quilt. Totally get it. Gosh only 2w 5d you must be so excited wow. Stupid question... as this is my first. I've opted for c-section, but if my waters break does that mean you have to go in there and then and deliver baby straight away?

[MightyB]

Random suggestion... Have you tried swapping what side of the bed you sleep on? For me I have to face the outside of the bed, so if I have to sleep on my left side I also have to be on the left side of the bed. Otherwise I feel claustrophobic.

[Music1 in reply to MightyB]

No, we haven't in all honesty. I do sleep on left hand side of bed so I feel like I can fall out. I did pref other side near window as I've always been a back sleeper. My other half swapped sides after my lap surgery (as it was closer to the bathroom across the landing). May ask if he'll swap back for a trial. Thanks for suggestion x