Sleeping on my side

[kc1021]

For the last few weeks sleeping on my side has been so uncomfortable, I wake up in the middle of the night tossing and turning because my back is aching.  I have tried propping a pillow under my tummy and under my back for support but it doesn't seem to do much.  I also have been waking up on my back (because I think in my sleep I roll over for more comfort) but I know you're not suppose to sleep on your back.  Has anyone been waking up on their backs?

I remember having trouble sleeping when I was pregnant with my son so I assume its just something I will have to work through until baby comes.  Any recommendations?  :)

[ArmyPrincess819]

I'm so big with this baby it's actually been the same with all my kids but this one I find myself somehow on my belly at night. I'm a belly sleeper and I somehow find a way that is safe for me and my lil man I have no idea how I do it. I'm half asleep when I do but it works and he still kicks and jumps around all night. I think you should try anything you will be most comfortable with. I can't side sleep for too long everything falls asleep and when I'm on my back the baby goes crazy. Ha the joys of pregnancy! I hope you get some comfortable sleep soon. I'm sure we are all looking forward to the first night we can actually sleep after having the baby. I'm looking forward to it. Yay! WE are almost there!

AP

[GRose]

Ladybug- I dont completely recline, just enough so I am not flat on my back, it's easier than propping pillows up. Then if I get tired of being on my back I completely fold it down and go on my side. My couch has a chase lounge on one end so I use that a lot too!

[danielleacor]

OMG i'm having the same problem! i swear i was thinking i was just being the biggest whiner to my husband because everything hurts already! with my son i dont remember having these issues so early on, but OMG i just can't sleep anymore. Trips to the bathroom are making me nuts, and when i am actually asleep, my sides are so sore that i can't get comfortable enough to really get a good nights sleep. I finalyl took tylenol the other night because i was having a headache too, but that actually worked pretty well, but i dont like the thought of having to take pain relief every night. I'm counting the weeks!!!

[kc1021]

I was doing a little research online and it sounds like its very common and inevitable to turn to your back when you sleep.  Like most of you have said you wake up on your back so your body is doing its job and saying, "ok time to move off the back to a new position."  

But I wake up in the morning and I am tired from not sleeping well all night.  Sleeping propped up on pillows never works for me either.  I feel like my spine is in this sagging position and needs to be straightened out, if that makes any sense.  Maybe I need one of those temperpedic pillows to put under my side.  Anyone try that?

[Sasha80]

I too wake up on my back.  Pillow between the legs, behind my back, under my tummy is sooooo uncomfy.  Doesn't help my sleep at all.  Talked to doc about right sided sleeping as that is the position that's most comfy.  He told me that it doesn't matter if you sleep on your left or right.  Says left is preferable but it's not going to hurt the baby if I sleep on my right.  He too stated that if baby is deprived due to laying on my back too long that the body would wake me up.  I find that my heart throbs after waking from being on my back.  

[ladybugbob1029]

Let us know what your Dr. says.  I'm interested to see what other Dr's opinions are on the matter.  :-)

[ladybugbob1029]

I haven't thought of trying the recliner.  Do you fold it out and sleep on your side? Or with it folded out is that enough elevation for back sleeping?  Just wondering bc now that you mention it - the recliner sounds like a pretty comfy option!

[Tasia32]

I have the same issue, pain in my back when I sleep on either of my sides and I have had this since around 5 months so going on 3 months. The only way I can seem to get comfortable is if I am sleeping on my back. When I go to sleep I am on either of my sides (mostly the left) and when I wake up in the middle of the night I am flat on my back basically. There was a point where I was sleeping propped up on pillows. I am going to mention it at my appointment today and see what the doctor says.

[GRose]

I have been waking up on my back a lot! Have you tried sleeping on the couch propped up or in a recliner? I ended up having to do that at the end with my first and I think I might have to do it this time around as well.

[ladybugbob1029]

I too have the same issue.  I get really uncomfortable on my left side (which is the position my dr. recommends sleeping in), and so during the night I will wake up on my right side or on my back.  When I wake up I reposition to the left side, but I still wake up several more times in the other positions.  My dr. says that it is nothing to worry about - that if I were limiting the blood/oxygen supply to myself and baby that my body would recognize and wake me up (which it does).  If I lay on my right side/back too long it makes me feel kinda sick in a weird way and I breath a little funny.  Mostly I guess this happens in my sleep and I don't realize it and just wake up and move, but one day at the Dr. I had to have an ultrasound and baby wasn't cooperating so they had me lie on my right side.  After an extended period I started feeling the weird sick feeling and the technician commented on my breathing.  She told me to turn over that it was common if you lay the wrong way for an extended period your body lets you know when its time to turn over.  
As far as recommendations - I don't really have any. I have a Leache body pillow (ordered it from walmart com) its shaped like a candy cane and the center of the loop is where you lay your head, and it has really reduced the number of times I wake up in a "wrong" position.  But, like I said, I still wake up a few times a night and have to reposition myself to my left side.
I'm rambling - so I'm going to close.  Hope this atleast makes you feel a little better.