WeMoms
2 Apr 2024

Your Best Sleep Positions

Pregnancy
Pregnancy health
Your Best Sleep Positions
Finding the best position to sleep in during pregnancy can greatly contribute to your overall comfort and help alleviate common discomforts such as back pain, heartburn, and difficulty breathing.
In this article, we will explore the top sleeping positions recommended for pregnant women, along with some helpful tips to ensure a restful night's sleep.
The Side Sleeping Position: Your Best Bet!
When it comes to sleeping during pregnancy, experts widely recommend sleeping on your side, particularly the left side.
This position improves blood circulation, allowing vital nutrients and oxygen to reach the placenta and your baby.
It also helps relieve pressure on your back, reducing the risk of back pain.
To enhance comfort, consider placing a pillow between your knees to align your hips and reduce strain on your lower back.
Side sleeping is safe throughout pregnancy and is especially beneficial in the later stages when sleeping on your back may cause dizziness or decreased blood flow.
Avoid Sleeping on Your Back: Watch Out for Supine Hypotensive Syndrome!
Sleeping on your back, especially as your pregnancy progresses, can lead to a condition called supine hypotensive syndrome.
This occurs when the weight of your growing uterus puts pressure on the vena cava, a major blood vessel that carries blood back to the heart.
As a result, blood flow to the placenta and your baby may be reduced, causing dizziness, shortness of breath, and a drop in blood pressure.
To prevent these symptoms, try to avoid sleeping on your back.
If you find yourself waking up in this position, simply roll onto your side for a more comfortable and safer sleep.
Prop Yourself Up: Elevate for Comfort and Digestion!
Dealing with heartburn or indigestion during pregnancy?
Elevating your upper body can provide relief.
Consider using extra pillows or a wedge-shaped pillow to prop yourself up while you sleep.
This position helps keep stomach acid down, reducing the discomfort of heartburn.
It also aids digestion by allowing gravity to assist in the movement of food through your digestive system.
However, make sure not to prop yourself up too much, as this can strain your neck and cause discomfort.
Find a comfortable angle that works for you and your baby bump.
Comfort is Key: Experiment and Adjust as Needed!
Every pregnancy is unique, and what works for one woman may not work for another.
As your body continues to change and your baby grows, it's essential to listen to your body and make adjustments as needed.
If you experience discomfort in one sleeping position, try experimenting with different pillow arrangements or adding extra support.
Consider investing in a pregnancy pillow designed to provide optimal comfort and support for your changing body.
Remember, finding the best sleep position is a personal journey, so be patient and trust your instincts. Your comfort and well-being are worth the effort.
Takeaways: Rest Well for a Healthy Pregnancy!
  • Side sleeping, particularly on the left side, is the recommended position during pregnancy to promote better blood circulation and reduce back pain.
  • Avoid sleeping on your back to prevent supine hypotensive syndrome, a condition that can reduce blood flow to the placenta and your baby.
  • Prop yourself up with pillows or a wedge-shaped pillow to alleviate heartburn and aid digestion.
Related content
The Ultimate Sleep Guide
1 min read
D
Deborah
2 Nov 2023

What side do you all sleep on? I’ve read that the left side is the best side to sleep on

Pregnancy Pregnancy health
1 comments
J
Jhelani
Left side is best because it gives more oxygen and blood to the the baby and you but it is safe to sleep on both sides during the first three months.
27 Mar 2024

Answer

See more comments
S
Skyler
2 Oct 2023

I’m currently 20 weeks pregnant and having trouble finding comfortable “safe” sleeping positions lol… I keep reading everywhere that sleeping on your back is bad and to sleep on your left side, so I do but I usually end up waking up on my back.. what’s the actual risks that doctors have told you about sleeping on your back?

Pregnancy Pregnancy health
4 comments
M
Miranda
I’ve been worried about this too! Sleeping on either side is so uncomfortable and even when i fall asleep on my side i wake up on my back. I went and bought a recliner and it’s such a huge relief. I’m 24 weeks but my back is always hurting. This chair is a life saver tho.
27 Mar 2024

Answer

See more comments
S
Skyler
lol that’s good that you found something that works for you !
27 Mar 2024

Answer

K
Kenzie
21 Jul 2023

27 weeks and already wearing a belly band. I try to lay in comfortable positions when sleeping. Being on my back seems to help the most but you’re told to not sleep on back. Being on my right side helps a little but you’re told left side sleeping is best 🤦🏼‍♀️ #troublesleeping

Pregnancy Pregnancy health
1 comments
A
Artisa
Same! The left side hurts. Only thing that’s helping me is my back and right side 🥴
27 Mar 2024

Answer

See more comments
A
Anna
22 Jun 2023

Whats some comfortable positions to sleep im 31 weeks and im so uncomfortable😭😭😭

Pregnancy Pregnancy health
8 comments
P
Paulina
I lay on my side (obviously) but with this pregnancy pillow in between my legs and cuddle another one
27 Mar 2024

Answer

See more comments
P
Paulina
12 May 2023

Does anyone have any tips on breathing better in certain sleeping positions? I can’t breathe on my left side, once in a while I can but most of the time I can’t and it hurts to sleep on one hip.

Pregnancy Pregnancy health
3 comments
M
Megan
I use a wedge pillow and I feel like that sort of helps elevate my lungs a bit and takes a little pressure off of them
27 Mar 2024

Answer

See more comments
S
ShayAujanae
I use two pillows for my head and those pillows for my belly it helps me
27 Mar 2024

Answer

J
Juliette
30 Dec 2022

Sleep Position? What’s a good position at 7 wks what’s the bad positions I know eventually I’ll only be able to sleep on my side with my pregnancy pillow.

Pregnancy Pregnancy health
5 comments
M
Megan
Any side. You can also sleep on your back until you’re 28 weeks along. I’m 30 weeks and I still sleep on my stomach lol. But I never sleep on my back anymore. Stomach sleeping is okay as long as it’s not uncomfortable for you or baby. But for right now any side, stomach or back is fine.
27 Mar 2024

Answer

See more comments
J
Juliette
Okay great b/c I love sleeping on my stomach!
27 Mar 2024

Answer

K
Karla
23 Dec 2022

Do you mommies sleep more on your left or right side? Google says it's best to only sleep on the left side, the right side causes high risk of stillbirth. Sounds scary because the right side is the most comfortable for me. Not sure if I should ignore Google....

Pregnancy Pregnancy health
5 comments
J
Jenna
It really isn’t that serious, usually you’ll be told by a doctor if your pregnancy is high risk, to sleep on your left side. If you’re not a low risk pregnancy then you’ll be completely fine mamas.
27 Mar 2024

Answer

See more comments
J
Jenna
Around 20 weeks if you’d feel better about it, that’s when you should sleep on your left side
27 Mar 2024

Answer

A
Angel
17 Oct 2022

Please share your sleeping positions… I am use to sleeping on my left side but my entire arms falls asleep and it hurts to change positions 😞….

Pregnancy Pregnancy health
6 comments
F
Flora
Cradled in the middle of pillows
27 Mar 2024

Answer

See more comments
A
Angel
I have the pregnancy pillow and it has not been doing me justice 😩
27 Mar 2024

Answer

M
Makayla
12 Jul 2022

Before I sleep this nauseous feeling off, any better sleep positions other than laying on my side? It makes my tummy hurt a little.

Pregnancy Pregnancy health
2 comments
B
Blocked user
16 Jun 2022

What are some comfy positions you ladies sleep in? I’m really tired of my left side every night :/ any other options?

Pregnancy Pregnancy health
19 comments
S
Sharnell
I sleep on my back but switch from left to right throughout the night….
27 Mar 2024

Answer

See more comments
B
Blocked user
I usually start on my side but then wake up middle of the night on my back… I read it’s not good to be on your back too long? Is this true or as long as it’s comfortable?
27 Mar 2024

Answer

Related articles

Hot topics

More questions from Moms