Sleeping on Left Side While Pregnant

All I know is, I'm a right side sleeper. And I had trouble changing that when I was pregnant! I did try, but was not always successful. I have 2 perfectly healthy kids. If I were you, I'd sleep on whatever side is most comfortable. But I'm no doctor!!

I slept on both my right and left side while pregnant - baby turned out fine. I think I would talk to your doctor about how much of an issue this really is.

Google search for stretches that stretch your piriformis muscle - you basically cross one leg over the other in a figure "4" while laying on your back, and then pull the crossed-over leg toward you to stretch the muscle, which is located deep in your butt. I had the same problem and it helped a lot.

My OB told me that as long as I shift from side to side while sleeping, I'd be fine.

In a few more weeks, you won't want to sleep on your back.

Also, try a wedge pillow. They are great.

Could try sleeping with your bottom arm behind you, that way you can actually lean forward a little more. Put a pillow between your legs and put your top leg in front of your bottom leg (running man pose for lack of better words), that way you aren't adding pressure to your hips and such by laying on them.

As for the bending, try squatting instead of bending.

Sleep on which ever side feels better, don't feel like it's a RULE that you MUST sleep on your left side 100% of the time. It's just a good idea to lay on your left side a fair amount.

It was never something I worried about.
I was so exhausted I slept in every position - left, right, early on on my stomach, and sometimes I'd wake up on my back.
Toward the end it was uncomfortable being on any one side for too long, so I had to flip over every few hours - which was a bother since I had to have pillows between my knees to minimize hip pain - but, seeing as I had to pee anyway I'd be up, use the bathroom, grab a quick snack, get some ice packs from the freezer (my feet got SO hot it was hard to fall asleep at all sometimes) then get back to bed in a different position.

Ah yes, sciatica. Well, I tried to sleep on my left side, but gravity seemed to always roll me over. My doc said that I would definitely feel it if there was a problem. As for the sciatica, there is a band you can get at the preggo store that holds your belly up so you don't get the pressure during the day, and I would put a pillow between my knees. With my third I ended up at the chiropractor, and that helped some.

I had that problem with both my boys. I had to find a chiropractort that would work on pregnant women. Not all know how to treat you when you are pregnant so before you make the apt make sure they know. I had several turn me away. But that was the only way I got relife. Good luck and congrats!

Sleep with a pillow between your knees. I had sciatic pain with both of my pregnancies right around 20 weeks on. The pillow between the knees is a great help, as is a prenatal chiro. And stand up slowly when you get out of bed in the morning.
Sorry you are going through this!!

If I was laying down just to rest or nap I would make sure I was on my left side.

When sleeping at night I would start out on my left side and then switch back and forth as I got up to go to the bathroom throughout the night.

M

You may think that sleeping on your left side is causing the sciatica, but I doubt that's it. Lots of pregnant women have trouble with this. If I were you, I'd go to a chiropractor who works with pregnant women. This could really help you.

Dawn

While sleeping on your left side while pregnant is recommended, it's impossible to not move all night while sleeping. Sleep however is comfortable to you, especially since you're about halfway through your pregnancy.

Chiropractic can REALLY help keep everything in alignment!!

I didn't have sciatica during pregnancy, but am dealing with it on and off now.
My chiropractor has made a great difference in it, so if you can find someone who will work on you while pregnant, I'd recommend that.
He also recommended that I buy a hard foam roller at a sporting goods store. I sit on it, and roll my rear over it, changing my angle so I am applying pressure in different spots. There's usually one spot that I really feel, and I work hardest on that. It's undoubtedly harder when you're pregnant, but may help.

Do you use a body pillow? It helps me a little bit.

Left side is best, but the right side is just fine. At 23 weeks, though, you want to avoid sleeping on your back as much as possible.

I didn't have sciatic nerve pain, so I can't help with that. But ooooh did my hips ache. Giving birth helped with that one.

Hi! Plenty of others have great suggestions for sleeping comfy and for addressing the sciatica (I would add that a prenatal yoga class would also be beneficial if you are not already doing so).

So... my question to you is, do you need to sleep on your left side?
My recollection is that it is suggested that one may feel more comfortable at night sleeping on the left side because the stomach tilts down and to the left - thus, when on your left side, any acids in your stomach are more likely to stay in there and not cause you heartburn.

If this is the reason, or if you have another reason to sleep on your left side then by all means find a comfy way to sleep. If you don't really have a reason to sleep on your left side, then don't bother. It is the same kind of thing as with laying on your back... for some people they are fine with that, others are built differently and will need to only be on their back for short periods later in pregnancy.

Whatever it is, always ask yourself why - if you know why something is recommended you will better understand how it applies to you, and you will also be more likely to be vigilant about it if it does apply (plus, if you stop doing it and have some stomach upset, you will better know where it came from)
- M.

OK ladies... I'm an older mom (grandma and great-grandma) So please bear with me on this. Sleeping on the left side? That's something I never heard about when carrying my babies. What is the advantage? I recall that when carrying my first, I was most comfortable sleeping on my stomach (a sleeping position that was never before, or since, comfortable for me). He turned out fine. I actually don't even recall what my sleeping position was for my other two, but am guessing that it was more of a toss up of left-side, right-side or on my back (rarely, because until recently I didn't sleep well on my back).. I'm just really curious as to what the new knowledge is about sleeping on the left side and why that is supposed to be better.