I think it's easier if you get used to sleeping on your side before you have to. I started when I found out I was pregnant at 4 weeks, and by the time I hit my second trimester it felt natural. And I was never a side-sleeper, most of the time I fell asleep on my belly, sometimes woke up on my back. A body pillow to hug on and put between your legs does help. You can get them at Walmart for like $8.
Oh and i absolutely agree with getting a good body pillow! or lots of pillows anyway! absolute lifesavers!!!
I think the back sleeping is worse than the tummy, just because the baby can add pressure and cut off blood supply... but its still early to worry about this, i know last time i started to sleep on my side prob around 12 weeks and really didnt have to yet... and it SU CKED!! i had such bad hip pain thru the rest of the pregnancy i really wished i could sleep on my back! so this pregnancy i started to avoid my back around 16 weeks and already have some hip pain... its not that you have to be right on your side, you can use a pillow to prop up one hip so you are angled but still kinda on your back... this is helping me somewhat as it adds more sleeping options..
anyway ive read lots of women on here say they slept on their tummy till it wasnt comfy and their Drs didnt have a problem with this... but when in doubt talk it over with your Dr
When i think of back sleeping and the dangers i always think of this....My GF was at the Dr for a check up and laid flat on her back just planning on a few minutes till the Dr came in the room and before she knew it she woke up with oxygen on and the Dr there alone with the nurse... she had passed out with no warning and it was super scary for her BF and it was from laying flat on her back! that freaks me out as she didnt have time to react or roll on her side or anything...needless to say her Dr told her never to lay flat again... im sure this was when she was in her 3rd trimester...
Thank you all for the tips! :)
I use a body pillow. I am comfortable laying on my stomach and back but before I always slept on my sides. I got a body pillow for christmas when I was about 9 weeks.
I'm almost 19 weeks and still half sleep on my stomach! LOL Your body usually knows when to change positions. Last time I was pregnant I used a wedge when my belly got really big. It helped a lot.
Usually after your 1st trimester is when you'd encounter problems. Im currently 14w 4d & just asked my Dr about back sleeping & she saids it fine as long as I'm slightly elevated. I'm not sure about stomach sleeping.
I don't know what a doctor would suggest, but I slept on my stomach until the baby pressing on my blood vessels cut off the blood flow to my legs and I woke up with my legs feeling really tired, which was around 4 months for me. Since then, I've use a body pillow to keep me from rolling onto my stomach while sleeping on my side. I also sleep well sitting up propped by a bunch of pillows with my feet up.