Sleep Positions

From what I've read/heard, it's suggested you sleep on your left side at night. I'm only 5 weeks but am trying to do this since I'm an avid stomach sleeper. Most nights I can easily fall asleep this way, however, I usually wake up on my back. I've heard sleeping on your back is really bad for the baby and cuts off the blood supply. Is this true and what do you girls do to prevent sleeping on your back?

Message edited 8/25/2010 2:40:59 PM.

Re: Sleep Positions

I was reading about this last night! I never slept on my back and now I find myself doing it all the time! HELP!

Re: Sleep Positions

Actually it is supposed to be your left side. This is from babycenter:

Sleeping on your side is best while you're pregnant. In particular, sleeping on your left side may benefit your baby by improving blood flow – and therefore nutrients – to the placenta. It also helps your kidneys efficiently eliminate waste products and fluids from your body, which in turn reduces swelling in your ankles, feet, and hands.

It's a good idea to start training yourself early in pregnancy to sleep on your left side whenever you can. Of course, staying in one position all night isn't likely to be comfortable, so turning from side to side while favoring your left side is probably the best strategy.

As for sleeping on your back, avoid that position throughout pregnancy, especially in the later months. Here's why:

When you're sleeping on your back, the weight of your uterus lies on the spine, back muscles, intestines, and major blood vessels. This can lead to muscle aches and pains, hemorrhoids, and impaired circulation, which is uncomfortable for you and can reduce circulation to your baby.

Back sleeping can make blood pressure drop, causing some expectant moms to experience dizziness. On the other hand, in some moms-to-be it can make blood pressure go up.

Finally, back sleeping can cause snoring and, with increased weight, could lead to sleep apnea.

Re: Sleep Positions

I am all over the place!!! I fall asleep on either side and always wake up on either my belly or back in the middle of the night and freak out. I tried using a body pillow but it usually ends up on the other side of the bedroom in the morning LOL.

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That's what I read too...Doesn't tell you any suggestions on how to stay off your back though. I've tucked pillows on both sides of me and I still find myself on my back!

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We need to be swaddled.

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Me too, always end up on my back in the middle of the night! I bought a pregnancy pillow which hopefully will help keep me on my side!

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Ladies, it really does not matter!!!

Yes, it is "best" to sleep on your left. But it is not harmful to sleep any other way or on your back. If falling asleep on your left is uncomfortable for you then sleep on our stomach (if you can) or however feels good for you. Here's the thing, as you get bigger and more uncomfortable and you can't sleep any way you try, you'll sleep however you can. And sleeping on your back...you'll at some point wake up because of circulation and air and such. But you WILL NOT hurt your baby, chances are you will wake up soon enough after you fall asleep like that. There is no way to stop you from turning after you fall asleep so however you sleep, you sleep, just try and get it the best you can.

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Re: Sleep Positions

Posted by TwoPeas

Posted by MrsJakob

We need to be swaddled.

HAHA!

What about sleeping on our stomach? Is that ok?

Re: Sleep Positions

I sleep on my stomach as much as I can because it's most comfortable. Lately, I have to sleep with a pillow under my stomach to do it because it hurts a lot with the baby there, but with the pillow it's fine.

I sleep most comfortably on my right side so I just do that when I can fall asleep. Some nights, back is the only way to go. It's so much more important that we GET SLEEP as much as we can (can we say trips to the bathroom???) than it is how we fall asleep.

I asked my OB and he said sleep any way that's comfortable. He said it's totally fine to sleep on my stomach the entire pregnancy if it doesn't hurt. He said my body would tell me when it's time to turn over or change positions, which it has.