What is the Best Position to Sleep in While Pregnant?

Sleeping when you are pregnant is often a challenge because as your belly grows you will become more and more uncomfortable.  Most mom’s find it difficult to find a comfortable position to sleep in and if they are able to find a comfortable position they are up several times during the middle of the night running back and forth to the bathroom. Learn what the best position to sleep in and why laying on your back should be avoided if at all possible during the course of your pregnancy.

Why Is It Best To Sleep On Your Left Side?

Laying on your left side during pregnancy is the best possible position that a pregnant mom can sleep in.  When you are laying on your left side you allow maximum blood flow to the placenta which increases the amount of nutrients that reach your baby.  There are several other health benefits to laying on your left side during pregnancy: it is often used to help reduced maternal blood pressure, laying on your left side after drinking water or juice will allow energy to quickly reach your baby so that you can do kick counts if you haven’t feel your baby move in a few hours, and it also helps the kidneys reduce waste and excess fluids from your body.   Laying on you right side is also acceptable during pregnancy; however, it doesn’t have the added benefits that comes with laying on your left side.

Why Is Laying on Your Back Least Favored by Doctors and Midwives?

Most doctors and midwives warn pregnant mother’s to avoid laying on their back during pregnancy, especially, during the last few months when your belly is huge.  When you lay on your back, you are actually putting quite a bit of added pressure on your spine.  Most mom’s don’t realize that the weight of the uterus and your baby can put additional pressure on your spine, back muscles, intestines, and major blood vessels.  Also, putting additional pressure on your spine can cause a pinched nerve in your back, muscle pain in your back, additional back pain, constipation, hemorrhoids, decreased blood circulation which can cause you to become uncomfortable and reduces the amount of nutrients that can get to the placenta, snoring, blood pressure problems, and potentially leads to sleep apnea.

How Can Mom’s Adjust to Sleeping on Their Side?

It is important for mom’s to begin training themselves how to sleep on their side as soon as they find out that they are pregnant.  This will help you figure out what position is the most comfortable for you and allows your body to adjust to sleeping in a different position.  Most side sleepers find it important to sleep with a pillow or a support between there knees so that their hips line up properly.  Some mom’s even prefer a body pillow or a pillow that is specially designed for pregnant mothers.