Sleeping - side or back

[MeganMary]

Hello everyone
This is my first post (but I have been lurking for a while!). I am 22 weeks pregnant (after many hard IVF years!). I have (what I hope is) a fairly silly question/concern.
I recall reading somewhere that you should sleep on your side while pregnant, because if you are on your back then this is not good for the baby.
I may have been dreaming that I read this. Anyway, I have great difficulty sleeping on my side, and I always wake up on my back (and then proceed to get cross with myself for not managing to stay on my side).
Does anyone know if this is true (what does sleeping on your back actually do to the baby)? If it is, how do you manage to stay sleeping on your side.
I apologise for this silly question, it is just something that has been bothering me for a while, and I hoped that someone may know the answer
Cheers
M

[Little Chicken]

You will notice an effect more on you at first then on bub, especially as you get further along. When you lie on your back the weight of the uterus compresses some major blood vessels that return blood from the lower half of your body to your heart, it will/may make you feel lightheaded, dizzy, and nauseous. If you are worried about rolling onto your back during the night, stick a pillow behind you to wake you up when you roll. It may also make lying on your side more comfortable.

[~me~]

Hi

Congratulations too!

I found further on in the pregnancy I couldn't lie on my back or I would pass out. You may also find you sleep a little lighter anyway and consciously turn yourself from one side to the other.
I used to sleep with a pillow between my legs, that was really comfortable.

[Sequoia]

I asked my OB this question, he said it's fine, but to change position if I feel uncomfortable. Sometimes I wake up on my back but find I have probably woken as I feel uncomfortable. I find if I wedge a body pillow under my back and half lay back on it that helps.

[ss_storm]

If you are still comfortable sleeping on your back then sleep that way, trust me you will know when it becomes uncomfortable! As someone else suggested sleeping with a pillow between your legs is quite comfy, although towards the end even though I kept swapping from side to side each side would still go numb! Lol.

All the best with the rest of your pregnancy and welcome to BB

[LoveKnowsNoBounds]

I asked my obstetrician when I was pregnant and he advised sleeping on my side. I was more comfortable this way anyway, but eventually I couldn't get comforable any way lol

[cdc]

ive been sleeping on my side lately, but ive always found it more comfortable

hoever ive had a few sleepless nights where no matter what i couldnt get comfy

[MummyTummy]

I have been told (by Ob and Osteo) that as long as you are comfortable then it is ok to sleep or lie on your back - but do not exercise while lying on your back, the pressure will be too much. The weight of the baby/fluid/uterus can press on the major blood vessel running down your spine and this is where the issue is. I am now 36 weeks pregnant and can still lie quite comfortably on my back, and did throughout my last pregnancy too. But if you feel faint or nauseous then you should definitely avoid it.

The best side to lie on is your left side, as there is less chance of organs being squashed, but you will still find that you need to move positions in the middle of the night before anything goes numb.

I think your body will let you know what you need to do, so if you want to lie on your back, go for it, you will probably find that you will use your sides more as you get further along.

I still slept on my tummy until I was about 24 weeks, and after that I still rotate more on my tummy with my top knee brought up to take some of the weight off my tum. For a while I used a pillow under my tummy for support, but now I think it is too big and I find the pillow makes me uncomfy!! Sometimes I use a pillow between my legs, sometimes not. But I just go with what my body thinks is comfortable and I have never had an issue with any faintness while sleeping or lying down.

[MeganMary]

Thanks very much everyone for your really helpful comments.

Cheers

M

[StephV]

I think you're supposed to lie on your side because of the artery. However lie where you're comfy. As you get later in the pregnancy you won't want to lie of your back - things get squishy around the lungs

I found sleeping on my side with a pillow slightly under the tummy seems best for me