Sleeping issues - on my side is not my friend...

junismum · November 2014

Hi

so I have read time and time again that the best sleeping position is on the left side - but an array of pillows between knees etc does not stop the tremendous pain in my hips waking me up within about an hour....and even ending up still sore when i walk around in the morning.

My best sleep ( for up to 2 hours at a time if I am lucky) is propped up like I am sitting in bed on pillows, like I'm having breakfast in bed, but I tend to slump down closer to lying on my back completely after a while.

How bad is it to sleep on your back? - it seems this is where i end up whether i start on my side or not. Something I read just said it might make me dizzy but doesn't hurt the baby at all - anyone heard anything else?

I'm 31 weeks now, and just need some sleep - already kicked husband out to his own room to take over the whole bed - that helped a bit since now I don't have to worry about my fidgeting waking him up, but still exhausted by the time I have to get up to go to work in the morning.

xuxachi · November 2014

I had bad hip pain with both my previous pregnancies - it sucks. My doc said your body would wake itself if there was any real problem happening while sleeping on the back, so not to worry. Discuss with your dr and see.

Mrs.McIrish · November 2014

I am sleeping in a recliner in the living room at this point. I could only sleep on my right side for a short period of time before all body parts are screaming or numb/pins/needles. I don't even bother now... It stinks! No solution other than a recliner if you have one.

mandyreads · November 2014

I sleep on both sides and sometimes my back when they need a break. But I am thinking I'll end up in the recliner sooner than later.

Samuelismomma · November 2014

My dr told me he would rather have sleeping mother than worrying about being on my side all night. I sleep however is comfy:)

NicoleWI · November 2014

I would think it's okay if you are comfortable (and somewhat propped up?). Ask your doctor. Personally, I can't lie on my back or I get super short of breath right away!

harmonicbabe26 · November 2014

Samuelismomma said:
My dr told me he would rather have sleeping mother than worrying about being on my side all night. I sleep however is comfy:)

This. People seriously need to stop overthinking this... Gettig some good sleep is hard enough while pregnant, for you to force yourself to sleep in something that feels completely unnatural would be silly.
Plus if you're getting numb and hurt from lying on the side then clearly that is NOT the best position for you or baby regardless of what people are saying...
I'm a stomach sleeper and I was able to figure out a way to sleep on my stomach at least partially till I literally got too big. No big deal.

jcdorsey74 · November 2014

I'm a stomach sleeper too. With DS, I slept on my stomach through 7 months. I was worried and told my OB that no matter what position I fell asleep in, I always woke up on my stomach. She said not to worry, that if the baby was uncomfortable, he would kick me and wake me up. :-)

topaz7777 · November 2014

With DD they told me not to sleep flat on my back but with a wedge pillow propped up was fine. Sometimes I also put a wedge under one side to still be laying on my back but shifted a little to the left. Everything turned out just fine. I agree with PP's, unless you are having problems like pre-eclampsia or something, sleeping however is comfortable seems perfectly reasonable.

junismum · November 2014

That's all fantastic to hear! thanks for that - it does seem like it's something all the information seems to go on about, but yes, my sanity will do far better now that I had your advice...

travelnut11 · November 2014

I just asked my doctor about this today and he said he understands sleeping on your side can give you sore hips so demonstrated all I need to do to sleep on my back is to put a pillow under my right hip and that's enough to take the pressure off. It barely felt different than sleeping on my back honestly and was a very small incline but evidently enough. He said either side for the pillow under the hip is fine but the right side is best. Good luck!

ewenner · November 2014

Add me to the "sleep however you can" camp. I have bad hips, do I cannot lay on my side for more than half an hour (even with a pillow between my knees) before I am in serious pain and have to re-position. I typically wind up on my stomach, no matter how I start out, but recently I've found myself somehow waking up on my back. With all this moving around, I don't think I'd be able to sleep "how I'm supposed to" even if I tried! Unless your doctor has specific concerns, I would just sleep propped up like you have been.

1more78 · November 2014

Awesome question I was thinking the same thing! I am a back sleeper! No matter how I fall asleep I end up on my back. Then I panic when I wake up b/c I'm "supposed" to sleep on my side. I have horrible hip pain and end up limping the 10 times I get up to pee then again in the morning!

supersarah77 · November 2014

xuxachi said:
My doc said your body would wake itself if there was any real problem happening while sleeping on the back, so not to worry.

This.

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