One of the hardest things about pregnancy is trying to get a good night’s sleep.
None of the positions you usually sleep in are comfortable.
You’re hot and sweaty, uncomfortable, your hips ache and your heartburn gets worse when you lie down.
Sleeping Positions In Pregnancy – What You Need To Know
You end up wedged in with no fewer than fifteen pillows holding you in place.
Only to realise you need a wee as soon as you’ve turned the light off.
On the rare occasions you are tired enough to overcome all of these sleep hurdles, the baby starts doing acrobatics and using your bladder as a trampoline.
Why Is Sleeping So Uncomfortable During Pregnancy?
If you haven’t already noticed, when you are pregnant your body goes through some pretty major changes. It’s these changes which begin to make sleeping uncomfortable:
- The size of your belly
- Increasing pressure on your bladder
- Aches and pains in your back
- Heartburn/acid reflux
- Shortness of breath/snoring
- Leg cramps
- Insomnia.
While there are times when you enjoy pregnancy, trying to get to sleep is often not one of them. You are not only uncomfortable, but worrying about what is safe for the baby.
Below are the most common sleeping positions during pregnancy:
#1: Sleeping On Your Tummy During Pregnancy
During the early stages of pregnancy, it’s fine to sleep on your tummy. You can do this for as long as you find it comfortable, as there is no danger to your baby. But as your belly and baby grow, you’re likely to find this position much too uncomfortable.
You can buy donut shaped pillows to accomodate your belly which may allow you to keep sleeping on your front well into your third trimester.
#2: Sleeping On Your Back During Pregnancy
During your first trimester it is safe to sleep in any position you find comfortable. As your baby grows and you get into the second and third trimester, it’s best to avoid sleeping flat on your back. This is because the weight of your uterus and baby put pressure on the large veins that return blood to your heart.
If you lie flat on your back for long periods, it can reduce the amount of blood flow, which causes you to feel dizzy, short of breath and increase your heart rate. The pressure of baby and uterus can contribute to backaches, haemorrhoids, slow down digestion and circulation – all good reasons to avoid sleeping on your back!
The reduced blood flow can potentially affect your baby, meaning they have less oxygen and nutrients. Most often babies will kick their mothers awake if this happens, and many women find themselves waking suddenly feeling like they are short of breath if they happen to fall asleep on their backs.
It’s not unsafe to sleep on your back for short periods or occasionally but over a prolonged period of time it can have negative effects. The best way to avoid sleeping/rolling onto your back is to use pillows to keep you slightly tilted off your back. Some women will use a few regular pillows, others try wedge shaped pillows of a full body pillow. You may need to experiment to see what works best for you.
#3: Sleeping On Your Side During Pregnancy
During the second and third trimesters it’s recommended you sleep on your side during pregnancy, ideally the left side.
Side sleeping prevents your uterus and baby from putting pressure on the large veins next to your spine. It’s recommended if possible you should sleep as much as possible on your left side, which reduces pressure on your liver (which is on the right). It also improves circulation so your body is not working as hard to move blood around and to your baby.
To encourage left side sleeping, utilise pillows or a body pillow. It’s ok if you fall asleep on your left and wake up on your right – you can’t prevent yourself from turning over in your sleep.
Just remember to turn back to your left again. If you are lying down on a couch for a nap, always aim to lie on your left side.
Having A Good Night Sleep During Pregnancy
Pregnancy can be very restrictive when you’re tired and need to get decent sleep. It can be frustrating to know you need to stay in one position all night and that knowledge can even contribute to finding it hard to get to sleep.
To optimise your chances of getting a good night’s sleep, you can try the following things:
- Wind down before bed – try a relaxing bath, meditation or reading
- Massage or acupressure can help ease muscle pain and aches
- Drink a comforting warm herbal tea
- Invest in comfortable PJs that don’t restrict or overhear you
- Grab extra pillows or buy a special pregnancy pillow to help you get into the most comfortable position
- Prop yourself up. If you are really struggling to sleep, trying sleeping semi upright in a recliner if you have one.
