Sleeping Positions During Pregnancy

» Sadie426 - I am 18 weeks pregnant and already having trouble sleeping throu

I am 18 weeks pregnant and already having trouble sleeping through the night. In addition to very strange and vivid dreams I seem to be tossing and turning an awful lot.

I'm also finding it hard to find a comfortable position to sleep in.

I read in "What to Expect When You're Expecting" NOT to sleep on your back while pregnant. I read somewhere else not to sleep on your stomach (this makes sense to me for the obvious reasons). When I sleep on my left side my Sciattica acts up. That leaves me with only one choice - to sleep on my right side which become uncomfortable after a few hours.

Can you shed some light on the reasons for not sleeping on the back and stomach?

Thanks in advance for your help!

-- posted by Sadie426

Permalink Print Discussion Join the latest discussions

» Maurenne - remedies for trouble sleeping

In response to message posted by Sadie426:

Congratulations on your good news! To answer your questions, sleeping on your back makes your pregnant uterus put pressure on the large vessels behind it, causing blood supply problems for you and your baby. I would recommend several things.

First, try positioning yourself with lots of pillows, especially behind your back and between your legs. I would also try using heat or ice for no more than 15-20 minutes per application to help your sciatic pain.

Finally, if you are already feeling uncomfortable, it will get worse as your baby gets bigger. You may want to try seeing a chiropractor or massage therapist to work on your sciatic problems. Look for someone who has experience working with pregnant women.

I hope you find this information helpful.

Sincerely,

-- posted by Maurenne

Permalink Print Discussion Join the latest discussions