Sleeping Positions

[PrettyKitty1]

So I have heard that sleeping on the left side is better as more oxygen reaches the baby? I am getting just a bit paranoid about this. I’m only sleeping on my left and right sides and not on my stomach or my back.  I do notice that when I sleep on my left side, I breathe harder, my heartbeat is faster.  What about the right side? Is sleeping on your right side safe for the baby? And my back? What if I can’t control sleeping on my back? I mean, if I’m sleeping, I’m sleeping, right? As soon as I notice that I’m sleeping on my back I switch and that’s all I’ve been doing.
How do you guys manage to avoid paranoia when it comes to sleeping positions?

[Limonada]

I'm a stomach sleeper and didn't have any problems sleeping on my side during either of my pregnancies.  Use a body pillow - it really helps!!I I don't think it really matters which side you sleep on.  I mean, I think the left is supposed to be "preferable", but it doesn't mean that you're going to do your baby any harm by sleeping on your right side.

[faye83]

I slept on both sides. I would change sides all the time cause I was getting a lot of cramps on my legs. Sometimes I would catch myself sleeping on my back but by the end of my pregnancy it got really uncomfortable.

[feather2e]

I think a long as you are not flat on your back you are ok as the uterus puts pressure on major arteries. Either side is fine. I found later on in pregnancy a reclining chair to be the only way I could sleep,( I suffered terrible heartburn.)

[PrettyKitty1]

waitn, Ugh....I wake up with back pain as well. And since I became pregnant, even my cats sleep far away from me lol. Guess I must have wildly punched them in my sleep lol.

Brittny, I will get a pregnancy pillow to try and sleep more comfortable. I love sleeping on my stomach..but my breasts are too tender now, and it hurts :-(

nickie...hahahaha you know what happens? The amount of information that is readily available to us by just 'googling' stuff is amazing. The more info you get, the more paranoid you become. Instead of worrying or thinking about my shower list, the nursery, taking childbirth classes, look what I'm concerned about hahahahaha.....

[waitn838]

i literally just asked my doc this question today because i sleep on both sides and my back and i toss and turn at night and wake up with horrible back pain...my doc told me that after 20 weeks i should avoid sleeping on my back and should sleep on my side...she didnt mention which side just said "side"

i now have to figure out how to get myself to stop tossing and turning but she suggested putting a body pillow behind me so i can turn over...my fiance sleeps on the couch because he calls me a "wild sleeper" since i became preg...the nights he does sleep with me i wake up with even more back pain...

[nickieb85]

I am already sleeping on one of my sides and the reason you are supposed to sleep on your LEFT side is to stay off all major arteries and help to not restrict blood flow. I think that at some point you are going to be seriously uncomfortable and you just have to try to find a comfy position. Sleeping with a thick pillow between your knees helps too because it aligns your spine under all that weight. I have never really been paranoid about sleeping positions because I try not to think about it too much... There are so many things to worry about it pregnancy we could drive ourselves crazy!

[Brittny27]

I have always slept on my stomach and have been having problems staying on my left side. I usually wake up on my back and then I will roll back over to my side. I've also been having hip pain when I lay on my side to long I think this is why I usually wake up on my back.

I've thought about buying a boppy pregnancy pillow but not sure if it would be comfortable. I do put a pillow between my knees when I'm on my side.