Sleeping Position During Pregnancy

Nzamorw · November 2015

It's widely recommended to sleep on your left side during pregnancy.

It's too early for us July Moms to worry about this now but:

For those that don't naturally sleep on the left side, are you starting to sleep on your left side this early to be used to it when you actually have to? Or are you going to wait until you physically have to?

I naturally sleep on my stomach so I think I have to train myself and get used to falling asleep and staying asleep on my left side.

monkey41 · November 2015

I'm already uncomfortable on my back or stomach, so I've started the transition towards trying to stay on my left side. I use a knee pillow which helps.

trucksntutus · November 2015

Luckily, I'm naturally a side sleeper so that won't be an issue. I find sleeping on your stomach incredibly uncomfortable and like I can't fully breathe.

jennyleigh16 · November 2015

I tried sleeping on my left side only but I'm typically a stomach sleeper and I couldn't sleep. I figure by the time its bad for me/baby it will also be uncomfortable and it will just happen naturally.

princessconsuela1986 · November 2015

I have a shoulder injury and when I sleep on my left side my arm goes numb and aches for days after. I have made a "pregnancy pillow" that I am hoping will help. I kind of sleep on an angle on my left side, releiving pressure on my shoulder.

BostonBaby1 · November 2015

The soreness in my breasts helps me from wanting to lay too far to either side. I assume when the time comes, I will get pillows or pregnancy pillow to prop me up.

KK1033 · November 2015

I'm normally a stomach sleeper but I've been training myself to be a side one. I've got a pregnancy pillow and it seems to help.

SaraC381 · November 2015

I'm normally a back sleeper. With my previous pregnancies, I just wedged a body pillow behind me so it still felt like I was sleeping on my back but it pushed me more onto my side. I hate sleeping on my side...my arm falls sleep every time.

LadyFleck · November 2015

I sleep on my side, but right now I'm sleeping on my right, bc DH sleeps on the left side of the bed. I might have to convince him to switch sides later in the pregnancy, but he has this thing about sleeping between me and the door to "protect me from intruders." Right, honey.

kami2277 · November 2015

I sleep on my stomach but my boobs hurt so bad I can't now.

blackgirlmagic · November 2015

Lately I have been tossing and turning all night long. I am normally a stomach sleeper but my breast are sore so I don't stay there for long. I can sleep on my sides but then my shoulder starts to hurt and sleeping on my back is not comfortable for long time. I have no freaking clue what I am going to do! I asked for a snoggle for Christmas. Hopefully that will help.

acadia07 · November 2015

I'm team sleep however is comfortable. I definitely can't sleep on one side all night, so I'll sleep however I can once I get to that point. Back sleeping isn't a big deal; you'll wake before you cause any lasting damage to your legs, promise.

KASG · November 2015

I definitely sleep on both sides, on the stomach, and on my back. Sleeping on my left is easy for me because I have my right cartilage pierced. BUT, I like to turn over and face H SOME time! Lol. I like sleeping on my stomach...I'm gonna miss that, especially since my dog likes to walk on my stomach. THAT'S the real adjustment I'll have to make: my dog!

PinkLady2015 · November 2015

I'll be gutting a huge hole in my mattress bc 100% stomach sleeper #fml

noelietrex · November 2015

No idea what I'm going to do. I'm a stomach sleeper. I've already set up a 2 pillow system for my sore boobs because I really can't fall asleep in any other position... Seamonkey does feel like a rock in the pit of my stomach already. I'm dreading the day my tum is too big to sleep. I was kind of hoping someone created a stomach sleeper mattress pad or elevated pillow with a big hole in the middle to solve this issue.

callen10210 · November 2015

before getting pregnant with DD is was a stomach sleeper then i got so use to sleeping on my left side that now that's how i sleep all the time.

@noelietrex hahaha i was perusing a local buy, sale or trade site once and someone had cut a hole in their mattress for this purpose and was trying to sell it on there

Christal161 · November 2015

I'm a stomach sleeper too!!
I'm probably going to invest in the pregnancy body pillow. I just don't want to spend the 100$ for it

Puddles03 · November 2015

I was and am a tummy sleeper. I reached about 5 months last time around and it just hurt to do so, so it came naturally to switch to back or side. "They say to sleep on your left side" but honestly unless it's uncomfortable you do you. There is no harm to the baby only to yourself when sleeping on your back. If your legs go numb move. The snoogle is awesome btw, I use it all the time.

princessconsuela1986 · November 2015

Christal161 said:
I'm a stomach sleeper too!!
I'm probably going to invest in the pregnancy body pillow. I just don't want to spend the 100$ for it

Make one! It's not all that hard. I used this tutorial and it maybe cost me $40

https://www.homemadetoast.com/2014/05/diy-contoured-maternity-pillow.html

SaraC381 · November 2015

@princessconsuela1986 Thank you for this link!! The body pillows I have just aren't long enough.

DobbysSock · November 2015

From my experience being pregnant with DD, once it's actually important to sleep on your left side or in a certain position, the other positions aren't really an option or comfortable anyways so you just do it naturally. A nice body pillow was crucial for me - I balanced my belly on it and put the bottom part between my knees and my arms around the top. I did switch between my left and right side, to be honest, but tend to favour my left side anyways. At that stage, if you're anything like me, you won't be comfortable or sleeping well no matter what position you're in. So I say keep sleeping however you are the most comfortable for as long as you can!

ashleyp3186 · February 2016

Bringing up an old post but is anyone overly concerned with their sleeping positions yet? I always fall asleep on my side but I wake numerous times in the night and I'm on my back. I force myself to move to a side again but I'm just wondering if anyone else is dealing with this? I have pillows and have tried propping myself in certain positions but to no avail. I don't have another appt until March so I will ask my OB their opinion then too. Thanks!!

tennisbabymama · February 2016

@ashleyp3186 I definitely have. I find my hips start to ache when I've been on my sides for an extended period of time and naturally turn on my back to relieve that pain. I'm not too nervous about it because I don't feel like I'm there for long and I've heard the bigger you get the less comfortable lying on your back becomes. I'm 19 weeks but pretty tall and so I'm still not showing too crazy yet so I haven't really had that problem. But I am going to talk to my doctor about it at my next appointment in a couple of weeks regardless. I did a while ago and he told me it doesn't matter if it's the right or left side you lay on and the reason they say to limit time on your back is because it limits your oxygen when your belly is big and he said that it's uncomfortable for mom so most don't want to be in their back and it usually happens around 20 weeks. That's from my doc. I think once I figure out a good pillow situation to help me be more comfortable it'll be okay. Trial and error

hope this helps!

DominiqueU · February 2016

I always wake up on my back. I'm not too concerned. I figure when I'm too big to sleep on my back it'll be too uncomfortable for me to, so I'll readjust. For now, I'll deal.

maddmama · February 2016

@DominiqueU same! I'm most comfortable sleeping on my back, but I try and sleep on my side. I always wake up on my back though.

MamaBish · February 2016

I have a pregnancy pillow wedged under my right side so I'm never flat on my back and I can't really roll on my right unless I make a concious effort. I woke up this weekend on the right with a weird feeling (Braxton hicks?) and decided it was time for the pillow.

jen11797 · February 2016

I've always been a side sleeper, but can never stay still all night. I end up flopping from side to side multiple times throughout the night. Ever since my first pregnancy, I've slept with a body pillow, and I'll never go back. I hug it with my arms and legs all night, and it's pretty much the best ten dollar investment ever made.

foxa319 · February 2016

Don't be too worried about it! My ob with my last pregnancy said as long as you are sleeping propped up with pillows and not completely flat it's fine to sleep on your back! I get stiff and my hips hurt when sleeping so I rotate all night!

maddmama · February 2016

foxa319 said:

Don't be too worried about it! My ob with my last pregnancy said as long as you are sleeping propped up with pillows and not completely flat it's fine to sleep on your back! I get stiff and my hips hurt when sleeping so I rotate all night!

Great!! Thank you for this. That's how I slept last night anyway... Since the heartburn was so bad haha.

PhoebeJune1984 · February 2016

I am over 18 weeks and still sleeping partially on my stomach (and my stomach is the size that it was when I was 6mo pregnant with DD)...so I am of no help.

lizamira · February 2016

I have to sleep on my back propped up on a pile of pillows. I have problems with my left shoulder and sleeping on it is terribly uncomfortable. Past couple of nights I have been sleeping in the power recliner in my living room.

TxTeacher91 · February 2016

This last week I have not been able to get comfortable on my back unless my legs are propped up. My husband has volunteered to sleep at the end of the bed and double as a foot rest

jlmartinez517 · February 2016

This was pricier than I wanted to go, but if you're looking for an investment piece/godsend, order a maternity pillow from bumpnest.com

nopegoat · February 2016

Sleep however is comfortable. Your body will let you know when it's no longer safe to sleep on your back.

ashleyp3186 · February 2016

Thanks so much for all of your responses!!

aceoffaith · February 2016

Ditto! This thread has been very informative....I've been struggling with sleep positions for a few weeks now.

Nzamorw · March 2016

How everyone doing with sleeping positions now? Is it the same from a month ago?

each position I'm in ends up on my back and then baby wakes me up because he's uncomfortable.. So selfish lol

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