Everyone has a preferred sleeping posture. Some individuals like to sleep on their stomachs. Some people prefer to sleep on their backs. Some people shift positions dozens of times throughout the night. When it comes to getting a good night's sleep, though, we prefer what we like.

Whether you like it or not, you've probably been told to sleep on your left side now that you're pregnant.

However, this is not a hard and fast rule. Sleeping on your side, whether it's your right or left, is preferable to sleeping on your back. Even sleeping on your back on occasion will not harm you or your baby.

The Anatomy of Lying Down While Pregnant
Anatomical considerations are cited by several specialists as the basis for lying on your left side. In the second trimester, your uterus begins to expand and get heavier. You have a large roundish weight in your belly by the conclusion of your pregnancy, which is pushing certain organs out of the way and placing pressure on others.

When you lie on your back, your uterus rests on the inferior vena cava, one of the largest veins in your body that returns blood from your lower abdomen and legs to your heart. This weight on the vena cava can obstruct blood flow in your body, but it won't entirely stop it.

While sleeping on your stomach may be possible for the first few weeks of your pregnancy, it will become increasingly painful as your pregnancy grows. You'll eventually feel as if you've wrapped yourself around a bowling ball. Sleeping on your stomach in your eighth or ninth month is not physiologically impossible, but good luck trying it.

Your uterus will rest against part of your liver if you lie on your right side, which is why reclining on your left side is normally recommended. However, either side is commonly considered to be OK for sleeping because it is preferable to sleeping on your back.

Find What Works for You
The important thing is to find out what works best for you. It's hard enough to get a good night's sleep during the last few months of pregnancy without having to worry about your sleeping posture. If sleeping on your right side is more comfortable for you, go for it.

Throughout the night, everyone switches positions a few times. You may discover that you have been sleeping on your back for some time when you wake up. Don't be concerned.

Try to sleep on your left side as often as possible. Early in your pregnancy, start sleeping on your left side to acclimate to it. Snuggle up a bit and keep your knees and hips bent to increase your chances of staying on your side. To feel more comfortable, use pillows. Use a pillow or one of those long body pillows between your knees. To stay on your side, try putting a pillow behind your back. You can also get a wedge-shaped pillow to help support your stomach. During their ninth month, some women find sleeping in a reclining chair to be more comfortable than sleeping in a bed. Follow your instincts and do what feels right for you.

Tell your obstetrician or midwife if you discover that sleeping on your back is the only way you can get a good night's sleep. They may suggest that you get some sleep rather than worry about it, but simply let them know and ask for their opinion.

Click here to read more about sleep and pregnancy.

Author:
Bump2Baby Scans
Barkby House,
99 Barkby Road,
Leicester,
Leicester,
United Kingdom
https://bump2babyscans.co.uk/type-of-scans/baby-gender-scan/