why are you not allowed to lay on your right hand side when pregnant?

hi everyone, just wondering why are you not allowed to lay on your right hand side when pregnant? I have been every night. Is that ok?

I have no idea, sounds very strange to me?

I don't think its too bad. There is a main artery that I think runs down that side of your back. Its a reason you shouldn't really lie on your back. It can slow blood flow to the baby & can make you pass out I think? The weight of the baby laying on it. I've heard about the right side, but heard more about not lying on your back.
I'm pretty sure from a thread a long time ago, that if you feel fine you should be fine. If you start to feel a bit off change positions & see what happens. I slept however I was comfortable & all was fine :)

cheers bj. I was thinking the same thing. If i am comfy what harm could i do :)

I don't think that you are 'not allowed' to sleep on your right hand side, but it's best to sleep on your left. Something to do with encouraging the baby into an optimal position for labour and blood flow to the kidneys.

I think the main thing is that you try not to sleep on your back because of that main artery that runs down your spine. The weight of the uterus can shift backwards and interfere with this blood flow.

thanks so much fiona. That def makes sense :)

it also has to do with the majority of your organs being on your right side, the weight of bubs can make it really uncomfortable for some ....

all my midwives have said that you should just sleep however you are comfortable, sleeping on your back is even ok as long as you're comfy and it's not making you feel dizzy or nauseous ...

I have been told that lying on your back is bad and left side is better for getting your baby in a good position.

And as others have said, your body tells you if something is really wrong. My baby jumps all over the place if I'm on my back.

Also, if you are like me you won't spend all night in one position. I'm always rolling over.

Hmmm.... i'm still sleeping on my tummy LOL

Whhoopppsss!!! :oi thought you were supposed to sleep on your right hand side???? My bubs kicks up the biggest fuss if I sleep on my left hand side and sometimes if I'm on my back, but always seems happy when i'm on my right??? Must go and read up on it???!!

Sunshine I'm still on my belly too....

With DS I was told to sleep on the left, but always find it more comfy on the right. You can be buggered if I wake up to change positions coz it's 'wrong'. I would be moving around all over the place anyway!

I'm still sleeping on my back because it's the most comfortable. When I lie on my left or right hand side baby hates it and I also get really bad ligament pains.

I am surrounded by pillows to try and make myself tilt to the left but end up waking on my back again.

Must talk to my MW about this.

Sue x

You can sleep on any side that you find comfortable. Sleeping flat on your back when you have a big belly is not recommended as there is a small chance that the weight of your baby could compress some major blood vessels in your back and thus reducing the blood flow to your placenta.

Just had to add my little bit :) while preg with my DS I couldn't sleep on my left side after hearing my hip go "POP" after sitting down one weekend around 7wks preg. I still can't lie on my left side, even though he's over a year old now. I was told by my physio that I should just sleep in whatever position was most comfortable for me, and if it got too uncomfortable on my back or on my right side to prop myself with pillows under my left hip and shoulder.

I have never heard of not sleeping on the right side though.

Well I hope you can lay however you want because I have the following issues because of 2 car accidents:
1. sleep on back = severe pain
2. sleep on left side = loss of arm function for half a day
3. sleep on right side = painful hips / pelvis
Sleeping on my tummy is the only comfy position... which I know will become an issue once I get bigger...