I'm 7 months pregnant and I want to know why do I have to sleep only on my left side? Why can't I sleep on my right or on my back? Not sleeping on my stomach is already hard enough! : )
2007-02-06 03:41:53 · 12 answers · asked by Michelle G 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
It's a blood flow issue. I personally am a stomach sleeper generally so it's hard for me to get comfortable and stay in the same position all night. I always go to sleep on my left side and I'll wake up on my back or my right side. It's not a huge deal, the left side is just better for circulation (yours and the baby's). My biggest problem is when I wake up on my back I have to wake up my husband to help me up (before I pee mysel lol). I'm like a turtle who's been flipped onto its shell.
2007-02-06 03:50:13 · answer #1 · answered by autumnofserenity@sbcglobal.net 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has to do with circulation and your blood pressure. To help bring down a high blood pressure they will have you lay on your left side to help increase circulation. But also you are at the point now where sleep is a blessing, if your are not comfortable sleeping on your left, get comfortable and go back to sleep. This is only a concern in your are having a problem with high blood pressure and I assume that you aren't because your doctor would have told you so. Good Luck and congrats on the baby.
2007-02-06 11:47:48 · answer #2 · answered by Toni B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sleep how you are comfortable (whichever side) but not on your back in the 3rd trimester. Sleeping on your back puts pressure on the inferior vena cava and decreases blood flow. If you rest on your back you probably won't feel well from it anyway because of this (hypotension symptoms including light headedness and nausea).
Resting on your left side is really beneficial if you have trouble with preeclampsia or pregnancy induced hypertension (or some other heart or blood pressure issue). The left side is best because it puts the least amount of pressure on the vena cava and the least stress on the heart.
Your best bet for staying comfy (or at least what has been my best bet over the last three pregnancies) are body pillows. A lot of on-line and in-person stores sell body pillows made with pregnancy in mind. Specifically, they sell ones that will support you front and back. In the front they keep your leg lifted so that you don't get pressure on your hips and also support your belly. In the back, they support your spine and relieve any tension you might feel from lying on your side.
If you can't get one of the back n' belly or total support pregnancy body pillows then any standard issue body pillow can do the trick, too. Body pillows have always been a life-saver for me in the last half of pregnancy, though. They really help with all the aches and pains of a growing belly. Plus, since I'm typically a tummy or back sleeper, it makes being on my left side a little less of a chore.
Hope that helps! :-) Congratulations on your pregnancy!
2007-02-06 12:02:24 · answer #3 · answered by Charlie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can sleep on your right, left or back, but they say the left is better and gets more oxygen to you and th ebaby. Its not a restriction for you to sleep the other ways. I am 33 weeks pregnant with my 4th baby and none of us have died yet. I sleep on my right side alot and occasionally my back. You are not guaranteed that you are giong to be able to stay on your left side all night anyways. You will move in your sleep. Dont worry about it.
2007-02-06 11:49:17 · answer #4 · answered by Blondi 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can sleep on either your left or your right side. Also, if you wake up lying on your back, don't panic ~ most women move around alot in their sleep.
You'll be just fine. You could try and sleep in a recliner too without putting too much pressure on the decending aorta and get a nice break from side sleeping.
2007-02-06 11:48:14 · answer #5 · answered by bluegrass 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just had my baby 2 months ago and for me, sleeping on my left side was the most comfy but I also slept on my back and right side and never had any problems.
2007-02-06 11:46:44 · answer #6 · answered by Angelina 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can sleep on your right or left. They say left because it allows the most blood and therefore nutrients to flow to the baby. But right is OK too. Not your back because it compresses a lot of blood vessels and nerves and can cause a lot of problems for you and your baby. Good luck
2007-02-06 11:47:03 · answer #7 · answered by Mrs. Always Right 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You and the baby get better circulation if you sleep on your left side, sleeping on your right side is okay. They just recommend the left side. No sleeping on back due to it hinders circulation to the baby.
2007-02-06 11:46:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Supposedly it helps with your breathing, and helps the baby, as most of your organs are on your left (or something like that). I found I had trouble breathing on my left, so I always slept on my right. My daughter is 2 years old now, and hasn't had ANY problems!
As far as the back thing, they're afraid the baby will put pressure on your spinal column. I usually slept with a pillow behind me to keep that from happening.
2007-02-06 11:46:55 · answer #9 · answered by jlene18 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well it is more comforting that way. Also, babies are positioned certain ways i the stomach, so avoiding any other positions make it more comforting for them too. You should find it more comfortable on the left side.
2007-02-06 11:47:48 · answer #10 · answered by !~!Cheara!~! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋