"Only sleep on your left side"????

[LoveChild421]

I have heard so many times to only lay on your left side, only sleep on your left side, etc. but I get so damned uncomfortable on my left side all the time. I try to start out on my left side but end up waking up finding myself on my back or right side. I can see the logic behind not lying on your back, but what's wrong with the right side? I feel most comfortable on my back a lot of times. I know it can compress the vena cava, but I have had no discomfort, dizziness, etc so I don't understand this "rule."

[jraohc]

My understanding is that the right side is okay but the left side is best. While in labor I was encouraged to roll between sides (too bad I wasn't encouraged to get out of bed, but that's a different story) - so it seems like maybe either side is okay.

As for the back - I think my midwife told me around 20 weeks that I should start avoiding it just because it's better for me and baby. I've never been a back sleeper, so I didn't object or ask more questions.

[wtchyhlr]

My problem is when i sleep on my right, i get HORRRID heartburn, and when i'm on my left, its only slightly bad.

I wake up alot on my back, even tho i try to prop myself on my side....

[liawbh]

My problem is when i sleep on my right, i get HORRRID heartburn, and when i'm on my left, its only slightly bad.

I wake up alot on my back, even tho i try to prop myself on my side....
With my first, I had the opposite problem. Horrible heartburn at night, and when I looked for advice on it, got even more confused . . . right side fir digestion, left side for blood flow. I really don't think it ca nhurt to sleep on the right. I switch all night long.

[dolfinluvr]

With my last pg I took the Bradley Natural Birthing Method classes and learned A LOT about various topics. Good thing that wasn't all that long ago, so I still remember much of it for this pg. :wink

What they told us about the benefits of laying on your left side was that it improves the flow of blood and nutrients to the placenta and it helps your kidneys efficiently eliminate waste products and fluids from your body. That, in turn, reduces swelling in your ankles, feet, and hands.

Not that lying on your right side is "bad" or anything, just that if you can train yourself to sleep more on the left early on it will be easier and more comfortable later on when you/we are much bigger. :thumb Even if you can lay on your left side while on the floor during the day or on the couch in the eve., etc.

[Patchfire]

What I have heard is that the reason you find yourself waking up on your back is that you are waking up *because* of being on your back - in other words, you wake up as/before it's becoming a problem, so that you can shift positions.

I confess, I stuff a pillow on one side and still manage to lie on my stomach, because that's how I usually sleep, and I have to hang on to it as long as I can. It doesn't hurt the baby, just gets uncomfortable for me. :LOL I know there are benefits to side-sleeping, but sometimes it does seem like a conspiracy to prevent sleep. ;)

[alegna]

Relax. Sleep however you're comfortable. If there's a problem, you'll be uncomfortable. I spent my whole pregnancy lying on my right side mostly ('cause I always lie on my right side...) everything was fine. :)

-Angela

[darsmama]

ITA with Alegna
:thumb

[Oregonicmama]

I sleep wherever I can get comfortable. I try not to sleep on my back. but it hurts to sleep on my back anyway, so thats not too hard!

It maybe better to sleep on this or that side, but its not going to cause serious problems if you sleep on the "wrong" side.

[cinnamonamon]

My midwife also commented that sleeping on the left side helped encourage optimal positioning of the baby late in pregnancy (not breech vs head down, but anterior vs posterior). I guess it's better for baby's back to be on your left side? Something like that...

[mamajessica]

ITA with Cinnamonamom. My doula discussed this at length with us and according to optimal fetal positioning (and better blood flow, etc), the baby is in a position that will shorten the length of time it takes to move through the pelvis. Something about the muscles around the cervix turning clockwise...It's very complicated to describe without a textbook near! I would research OFP (I believe fetal is spelled "foetal" in the articles I have read).
And BTW, Good luck on your left side-sleeping! I feel like my hip is going to split open, but I am trying, too!

[LoveChild421]

I think I remember hearing something about fetal positioning and left sleeping. So do they recommend sleeping on your left side or always lying on your left side? Say if I read or watch TV for a few hours on my back or right side then sleep on my left?

[mamajessica]

I think, to follow the "rules", it's left side always :( (esp. after 35 weeks!).

[jocmtl]

I feel most comfortable on my back a lot of times. I know it can compress the vena cava, but I have had no discomfort, dizziness, etc so I don't understand this "rule."

Apparently, that's very individual, the whole compressing of the vena cava thing. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't, depending on the woman. My prenatal yoga teacher says if that is not a good position for you, you'll feel it right away and you would change positions anyway (for example, you might find yourself getting dizzy).

Personally, I try to sleep on the left side as much as possible, but I get terrible cramps in my butt if I stay too long on either side. So I go back and forth, and I do often end up on my back. But on my back, I make sure I'm really propped up so I'm almost sitting up, and I put a pillow under my knees. that's my favorite position.

[Chiromom]

The reason for the left side is it is the optimal postion for the heart to beat at its strongest and most efficient manner. It is how we are taught to position a patient when you really want to hear the heart sounds well. Since blood flow is a *concern* in pregnancy (increased blood volume and distribution to the baby) it is considered the OPTIMAL position.

That being said: sleep in whatever position allows you to get the best sleep! Your heart is still beating effectively in ANY position and you will feel uncomfortable if it is not (ie vena cava pressure etc). It is FAR FAR more valuable to the baby that mama be getting as much sleep as possible and be healthy and stressfree overall that that she lie in a certain position all the time. If you don't mind the left side...great. I generally start there and then flop around during the night.

As far as positioning goes...this (left side) again is the optimal position for the baby to get into the ideal position...PROVIDED that the pelvis is balanced structurally. If you are experiencing a lot of discomfort or pain when lying on the left...that is actually a strong indication that your pelvic structures are not properly aligned or getting strained on that side and that malpositioning will be just as likely to encourage the baby do get into a less than ideal position as lying on the *wrong* side. If your pelvis is not relatively well balanced and freely (properly) moving..the uterus will also become restricted and the baby won't have room in that area. The pelvis needs to not lie in one position and be stressed in one area all night long. Your body will tell when it is time to move.

[Chiromom]

Am I a thread killer or am I just imagining it?...nevermind.

[cinnamonamon]

Am I a thread killer or am I just imagining it?...nevermind.

:LOL I know the feeling sometimes! I actually meant to thank you for the good info, though. :D