Trouble side sleeping?

SandiMarie23

I am having a horrible time adjusting to side sleeping. I have always been a belly sleeper and on the off chance that I couldn't sleep that way, my back was always my second choice. I know that sleeping on you left side is best for baby but because I have been trying this, I'm now getting shoulder pain and I wake up and my whole arm is numb. Anyone have any tips for positioning? And is it alright to alternate from left to right?

kalanieileen

It's definitely ok to alternate between left and right. I still occasionally sleep on my back when the pressure doesn't bother me. Just listen to your body. Also, try a full body pillow. They're wonderful.

Mailmans Baby Momma

The fully body pillow lets me angle slightly down and works wonders. I hug it, and it hugs me back.

jonesl12

It's 2:45 am and if I could simply sleep on my belly I wouldn't be up right now. I can not find a single comfortable position

amandac12581

I've been having the same problem. I'm a back sleeper and lately sleeping on my side makes my hips ache. I do put a pillow between my knees for support but that doesn't help all the time. I did ask for a pregnancy pillow for Christmas, i'm pretty sure my mom picked it up. Hopefully that helps! Good luck to you in sleeping

Missingchampagne

I'm in the same boat My hips hurt, and when I shift my ribs hurt. Or I feel like I'm leaning forward and kind of onto my stomach, then that starts to hurt. I'm ALWAYS hurting something and ending up back on my back. I have a body pillow that I have found to be pretty useless, and is currently my dogs' favorite cuddling toy.

wildtot

I'm having the same issue with the hips and back pain. I use a body pillow as well but doesnt always help. I have to recline up a bit sometimes so that i can be a bit more on my back but then my neck hurts.
The struggle is real!

AmadorRose

It took me about two weeks to adjust to my body pillow but I've finally been able to sleep well. I also find that putting a fairly flat pillow under my shoulder and a bigger pillow under my head is more comfortable, and I turn so I am nearly belly-lying but not so far that the pressure of lying on my stomach becomes uncomfortable.

sarahufl

I am a stomach sleeper as well, and I find the most comfortable position to be a sort of modified stomach sleeper now. I put a pillow on one side of my body and kind of go half on that, half on the bed. This way, the pressure isn't all on my stomach, but I am not fully on my side.

We'll see how long this works, I would imagine it gets uncomfortable after awhile, but for now it works.

Bubbles3592

I try to fall asleep on my side, but I almost always end up waking up on my back. I prop a pillow up behind me so that I have back support while I'm on my side and that helped a little to keep on my side, but then I got pretty bad shoulder pain throughout the day because of how I sleep on my side.

stephpl

I actually had to switch mattresses on our bed to make the hip/shoulder pain go away. We were using a memory foam mattress but switched back to our old super soft pillow top mattress and that helped a lot. I also got an extra thick pillow for my head to prop it up in line with my spine while sleeping on my side.

Disneygirl921

I got the body pillow (link below) that has a smaller pillow for back support.  I am naturally a back sleeper so what is nice about this is when I don't feel like true side sleeping because of discomfort I can sorta lean against the back support pillow and it props me up enough that I'm not too worried about the pressure.  I have only had the pillow for a week so I am still getting used to it, but it does help.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VMWJO3O?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

pinottoparenthood

Yes, definitely get a good pillow. I have a long, curved one so I can sleep with it behind me and also between my legs, and then I can kind of roll back so I'm halfway between my back and my side. Way more comfortable than sleeping solidly on my side.

SandiMarie23

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have a body pillow but I'm still trying to work out the positioning of it. I think it may be too fluffy, might have to look into one of the curved ones. It's nice to know I'm not suffering alone

mumistheword

When I am sleeping on my side, I'm finding that I am not having the hip pain as much as I am having discomfort in my rib area. And when trying to sleep on my side, I do have the trouble of figuring out to do with my arm. I told my hubby last night that he could cuddle on me to get warmer, so long as he figured out a way to do it without touching me lol. I feel so bad that I can't stand being touched right now while I'm trying to sleep, but I'm just so darn uncomfortable. At least it made him laugh. 

laurcorbs

I'm having the WORST time sleeping on my side!  I am a chronic back-sleeper, so started to "train" myself to sleep on my side almost as soon as I found out i was pregnant.  19 weeks in and i'm still struggling    I've been seeing a massage therapist now for my back pain and just recently popped into a chiropractor to try and help with my SI pain.  NOT enjoyable at all, but hoping the MT/Chiro will help loosen things up.

bunnywahl

I'm feeling the hip/back pain big time too. I can't even get comfortable when I'm awake. Nothing is comfortable. Sleeping is hard. Did some yoga today, maybe that will help. I hope.

olivemomma

Ditto the curved body pillow that wraps around your entire body! You don't have to reposition it and it keeps you off your back while still having something to hug in front. Plus you can elevate you feet at the bottom of it later on. They are kind of pricey and your dh will, likely hate it but if it means a good nights rest it's all worth it!

Bubbles3592

Does anyone else end up sleeping on their stomach when they have the body pillow propped alongside them? I ended up putting a pillow under my chest for leverage and then hug into my body pillow and it's a lot like sleeping on the stomach, but it's more comfortable.

mrstrax

Bubbles3592 said:

Does anyone else end up sleeping on their stomach when they have the body pillow propped alongside them? I ended up putting a pillow under my chest for leverage and then hug into my body pillow and it's a lot like sleeping on the stomach, but it's more comfortable.

I woke up on my belly the entirety of my pregnancy with DD and still do now. It's apparently uncomfortable enough that I can't fall asleep on my belly, but can stay sleeping when I roll over just fine. My doctor said if it didn't bother me not to worry about it.