How to sleep

[Walker1992]

I am just wondering has anybody been td not to sleep on there back or there right hand side, i am 24 weeks pregnant amd my friend as told me i am cutting my babys oxygen supply off if i sleep on my back or right side i am at the mid-wife in a few days time so i am going to ask but in the mean time i am really worried i am harming my unborn daughter

[Seb9]

It's recommended to sleep on your left hand side as this is the optimum side as it doesn't restrict your blood flow, but that's the optimum.Laying on your back in the third trimester with the weight of baby and womb, can be heavy on your organs and breathing and can put more pressure on your body.

They've recommended it because side sleeping has been shown to reduce the risk of stillbirth. Tommy's website has a lot of good advice about it.

It reduces the risks, but they're already low risk, and you only need to do it from your third trimester so I wouldn't worry too much about your sleep position as long as you're comfy.

tommys.org/pregnancy-inform...

[Walker1992 in reply to Seb9]

Thank you i'm just really struggling the mid-wife has told me nothing its just friends that have brought it up to me and its my first child so i just want everything to go smoothly as i had a miscarriage just before i got pregnant agen

[Libsie3103]

Just to add they’ve also said that you shouldn’t worry if you wake up on your back just reposition yourself. From what I understand the danger is spending the whole night on your back - for most of us frequent trips to the loo & general uncomfortableness means a whole night is wishful thinking!! xx

[Gillis]

I was told not to lie on my back but to be on my left side. At my antenatal appointment midwife said its fine to lie on any side just not on your back.

[Walker1992 in reply to Gillis]

My mid-wife has not told me anything i've never seen the same one anytime i have been i feel like i'm doing something wrong its my first and want everything to go smoothly

[Gillis in reply to Walker1992]

Everybody kept telling me differently things. So I spoke to my midwife for reassurance.I could only sleep on my right side. I was worried that's she'd be harmed by it.

[Moon20]

Its recommended to sleep on your left side. I did this since start of my pregnancy till end. I felt more comfortable and peaceful, easy to get out of bed too.

[Walker1992 in reply to Moon20]

I've been trying to since my friend told me but finding it really hard to get comfy and sleep i am rotating between my left and right just to get some sleep and trying to stay off my back. The mid-wife has never mentioned any of this to me and its my first so struggling and want everything to go soothly. Thank you for your help

[KellyAndBabyThomas in reply to Moon20]

Hi there, for peace of mind I slept on my left the whole time following this guidance 🥰. Not easy for a front sleeper but I did it anyway xxx

[Moon20]

Try to keep some pillows around your back, tummy and between legs. Check your mattress if its comfy or not and dont forget to drink lots of water and eat fruits.

[SRA8]

My obstrectic consultant told me not to worry about it until 3rd trimester. Even then he said not to stress about it - just try to stay on your left hand side but dont fret if you wake up in a different position.

In the end sleeping for so uncomfortable I ended up sleeping propped upright most of the time.

[Hidden]

I’m 24w too it’s a right pain! I’m a back sleeper with my 2 kids I slept in my back was never told not too this was 15&13yrs ago tho. I can’t sleep I roll left to right to back I prop myself up on pillows when I’m on my back so I’m not flat, it’s just not comfortable baby lying funny or on my bladder then I have to go wee just not fun lol the less I think about it the better sleep I have.