Sleeping on my back

[Zee]

KidsHealth > Parents > Pregnancy & Newborns > Pregnancy & Childbirth > Sleeping During Pregnancy

Early in your pregnancy, try to get into the habit of sleeping on your side. Lying on your side with your knees bent is likely to be the most comfortable position as your pregnancy progresses. It also makes your heart's job easier because it keeps the baby's weight from applying pressure to the large vein (called the inferior vena cava) that carries blood back to the heart from your feet and legs.

Some doctors specifically recommend that pregnant women sleep on the left side. Because your liver is on the right side of your abdomen, lying on your left side helps keep the uterus off that large organ. Sleeping on the left side also improves circulation to the heart and allows for the best blood flow to the fetus, uterus, and kidneys. Ask what your doctor recommends — in most cases, lying on either side should do the trick and help take some pressure off your back.

But don't drive yourself crazy worrying that you might roll over onto your back during the night. Shifting positions is a natural part of sleeping that you can't control. Most likely, during the third trimester of your pregnancy, your body won't shift into the back-sleeping position anyway because it will be too uncomfortable.

If you do shift onto your back and the baby's weight presses on your inferior vena cava, the discomfort will probably wake you up. See what your doctor recommends about this; he or she may suggest that you use a pillow to keep yourself propped up on one side.

I used to sleep on my side with a pillow under my belly & I used to have a pillow behinnd my back so if I did try and roll on my back at night I would only get in a half side/half back position IYKWIM

Now that I'm bigger, I don't just roll onto my back - I actually have to wake up to roll over

Yep pretty much the same here, id sit right up to roll over..used to drive DH crazy!