Sleeping on left side

[Anonymous]

The left side is the most unnatural position for me to sleep in. Ususally, I sleep on my back, which I've heard is something I shouldn't do while pregnant. (Is this true???) Does anyone have any helpful ideas on how to train myself to stay on my left side? I feel like I'm always flopping back over to it when I realize I am in the "wrong" position in the middle of the night.

[Anonymous]

I end up sleeping on my back a lot too in the middle of the night and I asked my doctor about it. She said doctors and others recommend that you sleep on your left side and avoid sleeping on your back to avoid putting pressure on the vena cava, a large vein on the right side of your back. This can be made worse by the fact that your uterus usually lists to the right a bit. This pressure from the uterus on your vena cava can cause shortness of breath, dizziness and lightheadedness. But she said not all women's anatomies cause them to have this problem, and that I would know it if I did, so I shouldn't worry too much. I have one friend who is pregnant and she immediately feels nauseous when she is on her back. So if you don't feel nauseous or short of breath then you should be fine. Of course, you should also ask your doctor and see what he/she says too.

[Anonymous]

This gets to be more important after 4 months - I think and I was told ( though cannot verify a reference) that is can also lead to decreased blood flow to the uterus. I bought one of the maternity pillows ( one that wraps around you) and loved it as I got bigger. Having a pillow behind you can also limit rolling over. When I was in the hospital during a previous pregnancy (for an extended bed rest) thye told my I could lie on either side and the angle could very. They would just 'tilt' me a little to the left (or right) versus make my lie directly on my hip.

[Anonymous]

My doctor also told me that it is fine to sleep on my right side.

[Anonymous]

I was told that sleeping positions are a little more important once you start showing because the baby is big enough to put pressure on your diaphram. Hence the important of sleeping on your side.

I can't remember the anatomical explanation in detail, but that was all I remember when I spoke to the midwife about the same concern you have. Sorry, I couldn't be more help. First time mom here!

[Anonymous]

Post 16 weeks you are supposed to sleep on your left or right side. This is due to the pressure on the vena cava. Try getting a maternity pillow. This helped me a lot. I used to be a back sleeper too.

[Anonymous]

Excellent. Thanks very much.

[Anonymous]

I asked my doctor about this, and she said just what I'd been thinking -- basically, the human body evolved without mothers knowing anything about the anatomy of the vena cava, and human beings are still here. If you're comfortable, you're fine. If you're not, change position. Back, right side, left side, whatever.

[Anonymous]

I was on bedrest for PE and IUGR and had to spend weeks on my left side. Very uncomfortable but the left side lowers bp, and increases blood flow to the baby , which is decreased in PE. Highly recommend pillows, you do get used to it. I tend to sleep on my left side now.

[Anonymous]

This is the second poster. I'm already 35 weeks and I sometimes sleep on my back. I don't seem to have any side effects from doing this and my doctor is not concerned. As I said earlier, I think it just depends on your anatomy.

[Anonymous]

I'm going into my 38th week and even though I try to sleep on my left (the belly seems to 'lie' better that way), I roll over on my back because sometimes that helps with the backache. I am pretty sure I end up on my back in my sleep, too. I know for a fact that I am not sleeping exclusively on my left. No apparently symptoms so far.

[Anonymous]

In terms of the vena cava issue, my docs told me it was fine to sleep on my back if it felt OK, and that I shouldn't worry if I wake up to find myself sleeping on my back.

But in terms of blood flow, your heart works best if you're on your left side. My doc said that some women can experience chest pains if they are on their right sides.

If you want to try to keep on your left side, fold up a small hand towel to put under your waist to provide support, and place a narrow pillow between your knees.