Tricks for sleeping on your side (and staying there)??

jblank03 · August 2013

I've read that you don't need to start trying to sleep on your side (the left side) until the 20th week but I figured I better get in the habit now. However, it seems like every time I wake up, I'm on my back which is weird because pre-pregnancy I slept on my stomach. I don't know if maybe I need to sleep with a pillow against my back or what... Any else dealing with this?

candypantsls · August 2013

It's hard trying to share a bed with hubby while loading up with pillow support!!! Haha. But lay on left side, tilt a bit toward your stomach or your back (at an angle), pillow behind your back, and pillow between your legs/supporting your stomach. This is how I learned to position people in the hospital to be supported on their side without too much pressure on the points against the bed. I've heard the snoogle pillow for pregnant ladies gets hot...

Dishylo · August 2013

Yes! I was a tummy sleeper but just didn't want to or feel comfortable sleeping on my tummy so stopped right after my BFP.

I've been waking up on my back or on my right side and have found that sleeping with a pillow between my knees (also alleviates some back pain I have) helps me to not turn over. It's much more of a struggle to move with the pillow than not.

Mallory Monjot · August 2013

I'm having this EXACT problem. I've never slept on my back before but now I always wake up there! I'm going to the doctor tomorrow and am planning on asking how bad it really is to be on your back.

BuckeyeANG · August 2013

You can put a pillow against your back and also hug one/throw your leg over it. However, its ok if you end up on your back too. Your body will wake you up if needed (although the waking up part could get annoying).

MrsW062610 · August 2013

I am dealing with this as well. I was a stomach sleeper pre-pregnancy and miss sleeping on my back and stomach so much. Sometimes I sleep with a pillow behind my back. My OB had great advice - that the baby will kick and wake me up if its not getting what it needs or is super uncomfortable. So that helps me the most. Good luck!

Tink1704 · August 2013

Pre-pregnancy I too slept on my stomach. After I found out I was pregnant I started training myself to sleep on my back. Then found out that my OB wants me to sleep on my side. So for the last few weeks I have been sleeping on my side, but with a maternity pillow between my legs. Its painful on my hips that are shifting making room for LO but the pillow helps relieve the pain and it keeps me from rolling over.
I have accepted the fact that from here on out I may not sleep well again
:-S

Unknown · August 2013

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sarahlm619 · August 2013

I JUST bought a snoogle pillow this weekend -- it is life changing!!!!! Haha! Ok -- maybe dramatic -- but certainly keeps me more on my side -- and I LOVE IT!!! I've always slept with a ton of pillows though!

alanexo · August 2013

I third the snoogle. I tried for weeks to use regular pillows between my legs, against my back etc. and it wasn't working for me. I worried the snoogle would be a waste of money, but as soon as I started using it I was in heaven! I love it! Keeps me on my side and I have less headaches and back pains.

stellar77 · August 2013

wilburbud said:

Just know its not the end of the world if you end up on your back. Your body will tell you when it needs to move to a different position. I spent my nights rotating between right back and left side. I also use a pillow between my legs which seems to keep me on my side more.

Yep. I can feel it gets hard for me to breathe & I can almost feel I guess I would describe it as "tugging"?

Edit * Or shortness of breathe?

goldenB · August 2013

I also recommend the snoogle.

But in the meantime try sleeping on your left side with your left leg bent and your right leg straight (imagine as if you are about to start running). I find this position alleviates the pressure on my hips.

GL

ETA - try laying a pillow lengthwise of you that you can 'hug' while you sleep as well.

miam4 · August 2013

I am glad to know that I am not alone on this! I miss sleeping on my stomach. So, I started sleeping on my side... I noticed that when I sleep on my left side I sleep all night long, but in the middle of the night sometimes I wake up with my back and my neck killing me.
Also I noticed that when I turn to the right side or my back, LO moves a lot and wakes me up!

I am gonna try the pillow in the back to keep me in place. I use one in the middle of my legs and it helps to support...

SunflowersBride · August 2013

I'm 17w5d and still sleeping on both my back and stomach (and both sides). It's weird, because I typically deal with some anxiety, but for whatever reason my sleeping positions is not something that I'm overly concerned about. My OB hasn't yet mentioned anything to me, and I figure that women have been having babies throughout history before there was any research on sleeping on your left side, so I'm sure if something wasn't right, my body will let me know.

rowanthefrog · August 2013

Get a pregnancy pillow. I love the Snoogle. It really helps. You may still wake up on your back, but it will help a lot. And don't worry if you do wake up on your back, you will get uncomfortable and change positions if something is wrong.

A

jgraham80 · August 2013

sarahlm619 said:

I JUST bought a snoogle pillow this weekend -- it is life changing!!!!! Haha! Ok -- maybe dramatic -- but certainly keeps me more on my side -- and I LOVE IT!!! I've always slept with a ton of pillows though!

Not dramatic at all. It really is. I have terrible insomnia and since I can't take what I usually do to sleep, it has been a lifesaver! I will be using this every night...for the rest of my life

Jenybrown · August 2013

I've been having trouble finding comfortable sleeping position as well. I was a side sleeper prepregnancy. My arms go to sleep when I sleep on either side since pregnancy. I got a boppy body pillow and it helps tremendously even though I still don't sleep thru the night like I did.

nbbride06 · August 2013

I also recommend the snoogle. Way better than just pillows IMO. And my hips don't hurt with the snoogle like they do with pillows.

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