Sleeping on your right side - Facts Please.

[BlondeP]

I am a fussy sleeper and can't stay on the same side for too long so constantly toss back and forth... But OH seems to think that sleeping on my right is really bad for the baby! I know left is best because no major arteries, liver etc can get in the way, but is the right really that bad? My sleep is so broken up at the minute because I'm constantly worrying when I turn.

Facts only please, no fictions! xxx

 

[Pambi]

This article may help. http://www.nhs.uk/news/2011/06June/Pages/mothers-sleeping-position-and-risk-of-stillbirth.aspx

There was a study of women's sleep positions who had still births and there were vert slightly more women who laid on their left side.

 

[Maaaaaac]

Getting a good nights sleep is very important for you and your baby so sleep what way is comfortable just keep in mind about lying on back. I didnt even know ypu arent maeant to sleep on ypur right side :/. Im terrible sleeping wise i keep waking up on my back! I prop myself up so im practically sitting upright but its just napping I cant sleep all night like that, I sometimes wake up on my stomach too! I try my best sleeping on my left i really do but its just not sustainable! I keep pillows at my back and everything to syop me from rolling over but i just throw them off on my sleep :/ you won't do yourself favours if you are loosing so much sleep. Have a chat with ypur mw too shell help

 

[Rubyredslipper]

I sleep on both sides, and like you toss and turn all night. I'm a side sleeper anyway so it's not been too much of a change, but I start on my left and end up with cramp/pins and needles all down my arm and leg then swap to my right until I wake up with the same and swap back. It's more of a chore now to roll over and I'm constantly waking my OH up with my groans and 5 minute rolls!!

 

[FBTTN8079]

I've been mainly sleeping on my left side because of this and I do wake up with an achy hip most nights! My consultant didn't seem to fussed about what side! I've also been waking up on my back ! She said don't worry as your body will wake you up/tell you if something isn't right for it !

 

[Papermoon]

I don't think it matters which side, as long as you're not on your back.

 

[SiameseCatLady]

Midwives said it's fine to me. Sleep in whichever position helps you to actually sleep! That's the most important thing. As long as you're not flat on your back you're fine. Xx

 

[Rhiandell]

I really wouldn't worry if I were you. As far as I've been able to figure out, it's more of a "sleeping on your left is better all around" than "sleeping on your right is bad". Like you said with the arteries and organs. Sleeping on your left also reduce heartburn and can help with morning sickness, and it's easier to pass gas in your sleep when on your left because of the positions of stomach and other parts of the digestive system.
So lots of benefits all coming together to make everyone keep parroting the same advice. If you look around you'll see that most reputable sources like NHS and NICE don't say "don't sleep on your right" but rather "sleeping on the left is good". I can confirm that authorities in Sweden are doing the same.
And like Maaaac said, getting a good night's sleep is definitely more important.

Sent from my SM-G850F using Tapatalk

 

[BlondeP]

Thanks all! made me feel much better and a lot more relaxed. Here's to a good nights sleep! Xxxx

 

[BunnyN]

I could never stay in one position all night. Interestingly when I was pregnant with DS I would get dizzy a lot and being on my left side made it worse. I would get relief from being on my right side though. I think it must have been to do with his position.

 

[Laura1992]

I sleep all over the place. If I force myself to keep still, I wake up with a really achy hip in the middle of the night and am forced to swap sides. I also wake up on my back sometimes which is meant to be a no-no, but it can be a relief from side sleeping and back aches, so I allow myself a few minutes of luxury and then turn over onto my side!

 

[Kitten1991]

I usually sleep on my right side, even while i was pregnant. The midwives will get you to lay on your left side when they monitor you, they did this with me and LO BP Dropped... Then they'd lay me on my right side and it'd pick up... I think that it sometimes all depends on how LO is positioned inside.

my LO was placed right under my right ribs (I was induced early due to this)

 

[tinselcat]

My brother is a doctor (a surgeon) and he had never heard anything about sleeping on right side making a difference xx

 

[Rooster30]

I changed sides throughout the night when pregnant, otherwise my legs would go numb! I'm a tummy sleeper usually and hated being restrained to one side so spoilt myself by switching it up.