Which side should you sleep on when pregnant?

Question

I have heard different things, lke left side is best...but I have a very hard time sleeping on that side. Is it okay to sleep on your tummy if it's comfortable? And what if you move around a lot in the night?

Answer 1

They say left but I slept both ways and something half on my tummy :) Even when I tried to sleep on my left side I would wake up on my right..LOL I also found that whatever side I slept on my baby slept on the opposite..Go with whatever you are comfy with!

Answer 2

I move a lot throughout the night. I heard the left side as well, but I sleep in the position that I'm most comfortable in. We have enough to deal with during the day, sleeping shouldn't be an obstacle as well. Sleep in a position thats comfortable for you.

Good Luck

Answer 3

You can sleep however you want to sleep clear through pregnancy. THere is nothing to suggest that even sleeping on your back clear through is at all dangerous.

The main artery that runs under the uterus and into the right leg can become pinched and cause your legs to go numb, or for you to become dizzy. Also, the weight of the uterus against your organs, especialy your kidneys can make you sore if you sleep on your back. But, the discomfort of both these things causes you to wake, roll over, and aleviate the issue. It is not true that sleeping on your back will deprive the baby of oxygen and kill it, or retard its growth. Its a medical misconception often spread by over zealous nurses and practicioners.

The baby is in a bag of water, so to speak, and is completely protected (like a vase in bubble wrap) from the weight of you sleeping on your tummy.

So long as you are comfy the baby is fine.

At some point you will get so big that sleeping on your side is the only option that isnt painful. Invest in a body pillow, and use it between your legs and under your belly to prop you up.

I went through this same fear when I first got pregnant, i ended up asking three different doctors and two midwives. Sleeping is important, and you cant do it wrong when pregnant :)

Answer 4

It doesn't matter what side you sleep on what i would do because i liked to sleep on my tummy was to prop a pillow under my leg or use a body pillow to cuddle with so it wasn't really sleeping on my tummy on my side but not all the weight was on my side but resting it on a pillow the pillow will support the weight and you won't be squishing the baby.Moving around alot is what comes with being prego its hard to sleep but once you find something that works it makes it easier. Good Luck :)

Answer 5

well you can't be that far along if you can still sleep on your tummy. If your only a month or so thats fine. but as soon as second semester hits make sure you sleep on your side. the left side is better. but sometimes it's ok to switch during the night!

Answer 6

If you're comfortable, I don't think it matters. They recommend that pregnant women sleep on their left side to increase the blood flow to the placenta. Don't worry about moving around at night either. I found that in late pregnancy, I could ONLY sleep on my left side...maybe that will happen to you too when it is more important to sleep on your left side.

Answer 7

I have always heard that your left side is better. However I sleep whatever is most comfortable. I usually fall asleep on my back because of all the pressure that is put on my back throughout the day. My back would kill me if i didn't sleep on it at night.

Answer 8

Left side is best for blood flow. I had Pregnancy Induced Hypertension and had to sleep on my left side. Prop your self up with pillows all around your back and between the knees for extra support. I got one of those body pillows and it was great!
Good luck with the baby!

Answer 9

A lot of doctors recommend pregnant women after week 20 avoid sleeping on their back because it can put pressure on the vena cava, but most of those doctors will also say that it's important that a woman be comfortable when she sleeps.

Answer 10

Left is best for your blood pressure... relieves pressure on the vena cava...

When I was pregnant, in my seventh month my blood pressure got really bad. In the hospital they had me lying on my left all the time, because my blood presure was significantly lower that way...

This is from http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/pregnancy/sleep_during_pregnancy.html

Early in your pregnancy, try to get into the habit of sleeping on your side. Lying on your side with your knees bent is likely to be the most comfortable position as your pregnancy progresses. It also makes your heart's job easier because it keeps the baby's weight from applying pressure to the large vein (called the inferior vena cava) that carries blood back to the heart from your feet and legs.

Some doctors specifically recommend that pregnant women sleep on the left side. Because your liver is on the right side of your abdomen, lying on your left side helps keep the uterus off that large organ. Ask what your doctor recommends - in most cases, lying on either side should do the trick and help take some pressure off your back.

But don't drive yourself crazy worrying that you might roll over onto your back during the night. Shifting positions is a natural part of sleeping that you can't control. Most likely, during the third trimester of your pregnancy, your body won't shift into the back-sleeping position anyway because it will be too uncomfortable.

If you do shift onto your back and the baby's weight presses on your inferior vena cava, the discomfort will probably wake you up. See what your doctor recommends about this; he or she may suggest that you use a pillow to keep yourself propped up on one side.