How to sleep a pregnant woman? Can I sleep on my stomach, back, and on which side is better

What pregnant women do not learn is to choose clothes, go in for sports and even sleep! The expectation of the baby passes in the care of himself and the child. Expectant mothers at this time often notice disturbances in sleep mode, it occurs due to hormonal changes that accompany an interesting situation. Already in the early stages, the woman’s body changes, as does the sleep regimen, and in the later stages, a large belly does not allow finding a comfortable pose. Also, pregnant women have many questions - can I sleep on my stomach, can I sleep on my back, and on which side is better to sleep - right or left.

Good sleep in the first trimester

This time is often characterized by depression of the nervous system. The future mother has drowsiness. You don’t have to fight her, just allow yourself a good night's sleep. Think about the unborn child who is still so defenseless. Your dream is important to him.

In the early stages, you can sleep in any comfortable position. It may not be very comfortable on the stomach, as the chest becomes painful and very sensitive due to hormonal changes. At this time, you should accustom yourself to the poses that you will use in a few months - on the back and on the side.

Features of the second trimester

The woman’s health improves after 12 weeks of pregnancy. Mood swings and nausea in the morning disappear. By this time, the troubles associated with hormonal restructuring had already ended. And new inconveniences, such as back pain, excess weight, clumsiness, have not yet begun. They appear, as a rule, in the last months. But the question of how to sleep is becoming more acute. What pose to choose?

For this time, a dream on the stomach is no longer suitable. After all, it increases so much that in this position you can crush the baby with your weight. It is worth considering other options and in order to ensure a continuous and sound sleep. After all, you will probably be uncomfortable in this position because of the round abdomen.

Optimal in the second trimester is a pose on the back. Since the baby’s weight is still small, the expectant mother will feel comfortable - the diaphragm and spine will not be squeezed. However, after the baby begins to move, it is advisable to change the pose. The most comfortable and useful at this time will sleep on one side. Best on the left, but in the middle of pregnancy, the right is also suitable.

How to sleep in the third trimester

The abdomen at this time significantly increases, which creates new problems and questions. Get enough sleep in the third trimester is not as easy as before. Therefore, it is worth considering important detailsto help you do this.

• You should prepare not only yourself, but also the room for bed.Be sure to ventilate it. It is enough to open the window for 10-15 minutes. In the summer, it is recommended to sleep with the window open.
• Your nightdress and underwear should be made of natural fabric. This will make sleep more comfortable.
• A large role is played by the choice of pillows. It is important that it is elastic, and also high enough so that the bend of the spine and neck is correct. During sleep, you can put it under the back, and not just under the head. This will reduce the load on the spine, and the back muscles can relax as much as possible. For pregnant women there are special pillows from which you can make a "nest" for the abdomen. It helps a lot to sleep properly in the third trimester. Experiment with regular pillows of different sizes. You can put them under the foot, under the stomach, under the lower back, between the legs - as you prefer.

READ DETAILS: Pillows for pregnant women - types of pillows and how to choose the right model

Which side?

In the later stages, sleep on the left side is recommended. Why exactly on the left? This is due to the peculiarities of the anatomy of women, more precisely, the position of the inferior vena cava, which runs along the right side of the uterus. Sleep on the right side can cause her to squeeze a child whose weight is already quite large in the third trimester. Try to avoid this. The fact is that the inferior vena cava is involved in the outflow of blood from the pelvic organs and legs. If a pregnant woman often sleeps on her side, she is squeezed. As a result of this, varicose veins may appear on the legs. In addition, the blood supply to the child may be impaired. Through the placenta, the baby will no longer receive enough oxygen. You will feel that his movements become more intense.

In late pregnancy, it is uncomfortable to sleep even on one side. What to expect in this case, the expectant mother? If you lie down on your left side, it is recommended put a pillow under bent at the knee right foot. In this position:

• blood flow to the placenta increases, therefore, the baby will receive enough oxygen for development;
• kidney function improves, which is especially important in the last trimester;
• you will be less concerned about swelling of the legs and arms;
• there is no pressure on the liver;
• no pain in the pelvic area and in the back;
• optimal functioning of your heart is ensured.

From the forums

zamarusia How convenient - so lie TE))) !!! Just don’t put your feet on your feet))) Try NOT to be on your back, but your side does not matter. We must listen to our feelings - the woman is the most sensitive creature! Close to nature, one must act as intuition tells 😉 🙂

m @ rina And I sleep either on the right or on the left. But I always fall asleep on my back. Yes, and during my first pregnancy I slept without hesitation, I only laid small pillows under my back, I could not sleep without them. And I haven’t heard that they don’t recommend sleeping on any side. Now I manage to sleep on my stomach (I turn over in my sleep) 😀 How comfortable you sleep, listen to your body and baby 😉

Irina I only sleep on my left side, although after 15-20 minutes. the stomach starts to hurt terribly. My masque has just an ass on the left side and with it he squeezes the stomach under the ribs to unbearable pain. We had a gluteal presentation and only recently the son turned head down, but still very active and turns to the sides. So I have to sleep on the side where his back is to hold in the correct position.
Just as Olga wrote, she simply stopped sleeping because she was terribly uncomfortable.On the left side - it hurts, on the right side the baby spins and may again sit incorrectly, and on the back the doctor does not advise, because even at CTG it was evident that his heart was suffering when I lay on my back.
We are only 35 weeks old, walk another month and a half, and I can’t sleep at all. She adapted to doze half-sitting, putting 2 pillows, but the neck is so numb and her back hurts in the morning.

NatalyaGirls, dear, but don’t worry to whom to sleep on which side. Sleep at your convenience. If the baby does not like it, he will let you know. The whole pregnancy was asleep, as it was convenient for me, on the back, and on the left side, and on the right. Drawn veins, stomachs, hearts did not suffer. The only problem already shortly before the birth was at night to roll over from side to side, each time I had to wake up. That's when the child will not let you sleep at night, you will sleep in any position.

General recommendations for sound sleep

• You should not resort to the help of sleeping pills if you cannot fall asleep. They can be used only on the recommendation of a doctor and in very rare cases. Any medicine, including sleeping pills, affects not only your body, but also the fragile body of the child.
• Do not drink caffeinated drinks at night. These include not only coffee, but also tea. By the way, there is more caffeine in green tea than in black.
• Sparkling water is recommended to use as little as possible. Do not take large amounts of food or water 2-3 hours before bedtime. A glass of kefir and a small snack in the form of several crackers will help get rid of toxicosis.
• Breathe in fresh air before going to bed. A walk will be useful, but large physical exertion at night is not recommended.
• Try to get up and go to bed at about the same time. Continuous sleep is very important for the body.
• If you suddenly wake up feeling cramps in your legs, stand up and wait a bit. After that, do a pinch-relaxing massage. Convulsions indicate that the body lacks calcium. Increase the intake of foods that contain it in large quantities. It is especially abundant in poppy seeds, sesame seeds, almonds, herbs, beans and dairy products.
• Do not be afraid of childbirth. Fear of them is a fairly common cause of insomnia, especially in the later stages. Prepare for this important event will help special courses for pregnant women or the stories of friends who have already given birth. Contrast this fear with the desire to see the baby, and you will feel how it recedes. We also read: how to deal with insomnia during pregnancy

Use the time of pregnancy in order to gain strength that you will need after childbirth. When the baby is born, you will no longer have a sound sleep. A child may require care even at night. But after giving birth, you can again sleep in any position.

Video

Can't fall asleep? Pushes baby? Do not find a suitable posture for sleeping? The cause of insomnia is not always in the open stomach. How to deal with hormonal changes and what can a pregnant woman afford in the fight against lack of sleep, except for milk with honey? Yekatrina Ishchenko, in an attempt to fall asleep, was looking for the correct posture for sleeping under the supervision of the head of the Women's Consultation No. 25 Elena Farafonova.

Olga Leonidovna Maslennikova, obstetrician-gynecologist of the highest category. Work experience in practical medicine - 31 years. Talks about the position in which you can sleep during pregnancy?