Problems sleeping on left side

[bytsieboo]

I was wondering if anyone else has had this issue... I'm 14 weeks and a FTM so all of this is a mystery to me. I am having difficulty sleeping on my left side, when I try laying on my left side I start to get nauseous and have discomfort in my chest. It almost feels like heartburn. It's very similar to how I feel if I lay on my back....and that confuses me because the left side is suppose to be the ideal side to sleep on. I go to the dr tomorrow, but I'm not concerned about this. Just T I R E D.

[lilla18]

According to some research I did early pregnancy, sleeping on the left increases the flow of oxygen between you and your baby. I didn't quite understand why since I couldn't find anywhere saying exactly how it does that, but I assume it has to do with the blood supply and/or position of the baby growing inside. Although I'm certain the umbilical cord would control the flow of blood and nutrients, maybe sleeping on the left just relieves stress on certain organs or something. I know later in pregnancy my midwife said it's best if the baby not only positions itself head-down, but also on the left, so maybe sleeping on the left is supposed to encourage that.

Honestly, I have no clue. I just know that they say if you have trouble breathing or gain excessive weight, lay on your left side. However, if you don't, I'm not entirely sure of the reason.

[RaisingTwoSoon]

I can only sleep on my right side. I am the same boat and have a very rough time on my left. I wake up on my back sometimes too.

[Chelseaa2015]

I have a similar issue! I'm only about 7 weeks and I have always been a mostly right-side sleeper so trying to force myself to sleep more on the left has been rough. I usually wake up to find myself sleeping on the right side again because the left just makes my body hurt a bit more for some reason. Is there a reason they say the left side is supposed to be the best side to sleep?

[lilla18]

I used to sleep on my back, my more natural sleeping position when not pregnant, throughout my early pregnancy. I tried sleeping on my left, but it just want as comfortable. Now that I'm 32 weeks, the left is more comfortable than my back I think because of the weight of the baby making it harder to breathe if I'm on my back, almost as if my cat were trying to sleep on my chest again like she used to. Therefore I don't think you have too much to worry about just yet, as long as your breathing is normal. But I do recommend you try to get into that habit for later in pregnancy.

[rozalynnsmommy]

I have slept on my left side, right side, and back my whole pregnancy. I just sleep the way im comfortable. My doc recommends my left side. If u think its acid reflux try putting more pillows under ur head to elevate it and if that doesnt work ask ur doctor about omeprazole it works wonders for me.