How to avoid sleeping on my back?

Im 14 weeks and have heard that it is time to start avoiding sleeping on my back, and instead sleep on my side. I find it most comfortable to sleep on my back and so this is a little frustrating. Anyone have any ideas?

Re: How to avoid sleeping on my back?

Im 26 weeks and still sleep on my back, they say sleeping on the right side is best but i sleep in whatever position i am comfortable in since i have been having alot of trouble sleeping the last 26 weeks.

Re: How to avoid sleeping on my back?

Re: How to avoid sleeping on my back?

Get a body pillow!

Re: How to avoid sleeping on my back?

i think you'll know when you cant sleep on your back anymore cause you wont be able to breath lol. for me, the most comfortable side is my right side. if i try to sleep on my left, i feel like i cant breathe and my heart starts beating fast.

Re: How to avoid sleeping on my back?

I also heard it was the left side. I dont know if Its all in my head but when I wake up catching myself sleeping on my back I think I actually feel some burning in my stomach...I dont know.

A coworker gave me a body pillow that she never used, and I tried it once for a few minutes and hated it, i know i have to give it another shot!

Re: How to avoid sleeping on my back?

I put a regular pillow under my right side...works wonders.

Re: How to avoid sleeping on my back?

I have a body pillow and I still always end up on my back. When I start choking, that's when I get the hint and go on my left side.

Message edited 5/24/2011 11:46:46 AM.

Re: How to avoid sleeping on my back?

my doctor said it's fine to continue sleeping on my back as long as there are no blood pressure issues or other concerns, and if I get short of breath then obviously it's not going to work.

the way he described it is that the BEST position is on your left side. which is slightly better than being on your right side. which is slightly better than being on your back (if you have no complications).

when i do sleep on my back, I put a thin pillow under my right hip to tilt myself slightly to the left. i alternate between this, and being on my left or right side, throughout the night. i get uncomfortable being in the same position all night.

Re: How to avoid sleeping on my back?

I was told in both cases you will know when its time to stop sleeping on your back. It will become uncomfortalble.

With DS #1 I slept on my back well into my 2nd trimester, maybe even my 3rd. With DS #2 it became uncomfortable early on probably by 14 weeks. Whenever I went on my back it would get short of breath and wake up.

My OB said sleep however you are comfy!

Re: How to avoid sleeping on my back?

I'm 40+ weeks and sleep probably at least half the night on my back - have the entire pregnancy. I use lots of pillows so I'm on a decent incline - which works best for my back.

Re: How to avoid sleeping on my back?

i use to alternate between my sides and back...as long as you are comfortable on your back its not such a big deal...

the last few weeks tho, i am no longer comfy on my back...baby is too big and pushes against my bladder and i hate to get up ever hour to pee... so im strickly a side sleeper now.

Re: How to avoid sleeping on my back?

I gave up on this. I was obsessed with getting myself used to sleeping on my left side and no matter what, I always flipped onto my right side. Even with the snoogle, I still somehow manage to move around. DH used to try to fix me in the middle of the night whenever I wasn't on my left side, but honestly, it was no use.

Even now, at 35 weeks, I wake up almost every morning now on my back. I used to get so worried but like others said, if anything, you would wake up with discomfort and trouble breathing if it was a probelm.

I'd say to try a snoogle or body pillow and see if that helps, but don't stress yourself. Your body will tell you if you are doing something wrong.

Re: How to avoid sleeping on my back?

I try to fall asleep on my side and hug a body pillow but I always either wake up on my back or wake up with back pain that only subsides if I sleep on my back.

At this point, Im going to sleep on my back until it is no longer comfortable.

Re: How to avoid sleeping on my back?

Dopey question but, why ar eyou not supposed to sleep on your back?

Re: How to avoid sleeping on my back?

Re: How to avoid sleeping on my back?

I wouldn't worry about it...sleep how you are the most comfortable.

Re: How to avoid sleeping on my back?

I used to lay on my side and put the body pillow behind me so I couldnt roll to my back. You will know when its not good to sleep on your back anymore.

Re: How to avoid sleeping on my back?

I'll be 27w tomorrow, and I still wake up every morning on my back. From what I've heard, if being on your back were hurting you/your baby, it would hurt and you'd wake up out of breath and choking. If you can sleep through it comfortably, it's not hurting you.

The concern is your uterus being so heavy that it presses down on major blood vessels, cutting off oxygen flow. Depending on how big you are, I guess, and where everything is sitting, you could be okay on your back well into your pregnancy. Your body will let you know!