TTMA about sleep positions-XP

[cateyes]

I have been reading that you should only sleep basically on your left side, but the information is conflicting on when you should start to do this. I am typically a stomach sleeper and can still get comfortable in that position, or I sleep on my right side. Has anyone started worrying about how they are sleeping? STM+ mom's-when did you start worrying about sleeping positions that are best for pregnancy?

[ellabee]

I worried about this a lot with my first pregnancy. I'm a bit better this time, but it still crosses my mind frequently.

My OB basically said that your body will tell you when you it's time to stop laying on your stomach/back because you'll just get uncomfortable.

I'm 34w and still occasionally wake up on my back in the middle of the night.

[bazinga]

I think the recommendation is no back sleeping after first trimester because the weight of your uterus can compress blood flow to baby. Lying on the left improves blood flow which is why its best.

I slept on my stomach until I couldn't any longer. Since then I've tried to sleep on my side with a pillow between my knees and at my back (usually switching a few times a night because it hurt my hips). I was still waking up on my back more often than is probably good and occaisionally with tingling legs, which is not a good sign. This is the only reason i broke out the snoogle a couple of weeks ago at about 34w DH complains we have a 3rd person in bed and it does get hot but I am sleeping better.

[onesweetworld]

I sleep on either my left or right side. My U shaped pillow helps keep me on my side. Your body will tell you what to do.

[daisylola11]

I sleep how I'm most comfortable. I'm STM, 28 weeks and I'm most comfortable on my back, my hips hurt so much on either side. I do add pillows and I find myself adjusting through out the night anyway from side to side and on my back. MW told me same as PP mentioned, your body will let you know, plus I'm up peeing a ton so not in any one position for too long .

[LadyNymeria]

I stopped sleeping mainly on my back when it started feeling uncomfortable. Don't remember when that was, but my body basically told me when to stop because it started hurting my back. From then on I slept on my side, but didn't worry about which side.

Yes, the left is technically better, but I wouldn't worry too much if you want to lay on your right. I would have never gotten a night of sleep if I limited myself to my left.

So basically I'd sleep however is most comfortable for you and listen to your body for when a position is no longer ok.

[katelou]

I had a medical reason why sleeping in my left side was bad (for me, not baby) so I was told to only sleep on my right side. My OB was totally unconcerned with this.

[notagoddess]

My OB basically told me not to worry about it. I had always been a side sleeper, alternating sides throughout the night. Now that I'm big, I can't get very comfortable on my side. I go to sleep that way, but every time I wake up I'm on my back. I figure it's fine since it's comfortable and my body naturally gets into that position.

[hpnegirl]

Sleep however you are comfortable. I'm still on my back at 21 weeks. With DS1, I was on my side early on for comfort and favored my left side. With this one, when I roll to the side, I'm on my left.

[cnf2013]

I slept on both sides and my back my entire pregnancy. Your body will let you know when you need to change positions. I used a body pillow when on my side because it was easy to roll with. As easy as rolling while massively pregnant gets, that is. Honestly, my ob said just getting sleep was important and to just do so however I could to get enough.

[moutonrouge]

I was a stomach sleeper before so I did worry initially that it would become unsafe to do that. It just gets harder - at first I had to hitch up one leg to continue stomach sleeping (which killed my lower back) and now I kind of drape half of myself on a Snoogle when I feel like stomach sleeping. It's close enough.

I used to sometimes wake up on my back, but my MW said not to worry too much about it. She explained that back sleeping also makes mom feel uncomfortable if it is bad for baby. She suggested if I wanted to back sleep that I just try to prop half of my back up with a towel/blanket/pillow to reduce pressure on the vein. I do this with the Snoogle - I have the long side to my back and just kind of angle myself to face up. It's actually one of the more comfortable ways to sleep now.

[mustloveerica]

I sleep however I'm most comfortable. I'm naturally a stomach sleeper but I stopped that around 12 weeks when I started getting a bump. At 24 weeks I find I'm most comfortable if I lay in my back with a pillow sort of wedged under one side. So on my back but with one shoulder and hip slightly elevated? I keep a pillow on each side and just switch sides all night. If I stay on one side for too long my hips start to hurt so I can't imagine sleeping on your left side only for an entire pregnancy.

[icedtea]

All positions suck for me currently, but my back is most comfortable. I'm just going with it.

[cosmicav]

My OB told me that getting good quality sleep is most important, and your body will let you know when a position isn't good for you anymore. He said left side is best but don't stress about it. I'm 30weeks now with #2 and I try to lay on my side when I go to bed but I often end up on my back. It is what it is.

[thelittleredm]

No sleep position works for me unless I can manage to wrangle my snoogle into the right position so that I can lay belly down without having my belly squished. It's sad.

That said, I at least put in the effort to fall asleep on my left side but after that? Don't care as long as I can fall asleep again.