Sleeping While Pregnant

I am also a tummy sleeper. So, I had a very hard time at first, trying to sleep when the belly got bigger. I would definately suggest a body pillow. It helped me sleep soo much better. They sell them at bed bath and beyond for about $10. The only thing is it is hard to roll over when you're all wrapped around a body pillow. I tried it once and accidently bounced my hubby off the bed. I laughed soo hard I had to run to the bathroom to potty, but he was quite irritated. So, if you go with the body pillow I wouldn't suggest doing the big flop to roll yourself over to your other side. It tend to irritate the hubbby a little when he wakes suddenly on the floor. (ha ha it still makes me laugh). Hope this helps. Good luck.

I am also a tummy sleeper so I totally understand the sleep deprivation. I went through times when it was a really hard adjustment and times when it was much easier. The body pillow helped me too so I echo that. Do you have a big bean bag or love sac or whatever they are called these days :) You can manipulate that to sleep on your tummy and still get the support around the rest of your body so you don't feel like you are laying on a watermelon...

My other suggestion comes from a relaxation labor position in the Bradley method. I think its called the running position and the best thing to do is see a picture of it but you lay on your side with your top leg at a right angle out in fron t of you completly supported on a pillow (knee to toe up on the pillow) Your head is on a flatter pillow chin angled down. The arm undernieth is actually bent behind you not under you and the bottom leg is bent... so it looks like you are running. It is the closest I have come to sleeping on my belly in bed...

I hope you get some sleep but this is only the beginning of being a sleep deprived mommy :) congrats on your pregnancy!

Body pillows!! There are many different types out there. I would whole heartedly suggest a body pillow of some type. I loved it. I had only a straight one but there are those that cradle even around your back. I would suggest having something behind your back as well especially once you get bigger. If you don't have or want to spend the money on a body pillow just use a lot of regular pillows under you belly, in between your knees and for your back. It's never completely comfortable but it helps. I actually near the end of the pregnancy slept on the couch, sounds strange but it was really comfortable for me.

Ah pregnant sleep--an oxymoron. I too was a belly sleeper, although I was able to do it until about eighteen weeks with both of mine. I would suggest a wedge pillow to slide under your bump (boppy makes one), a small pillow for between your knees (memory foam makes one, although a decorative one from the couch will do), and a medium sized dog to support your low back by snuggling against the small of your back. I couldn't have survived either pregnancy without my dog! However, if you don't have a dog, a pilow wedged under the small of your back should do. In order to make room for numerous pillows and dog, kick your husband out of bed. Or sometimes, if you have a firm couch, wedging yourself tightly in the crevice where back and seat meet also works nicely.

Congratulations!! What helped me sleep through all 4 of my pregnancies was a body pillow. It was a real lifesaver.

Okay, this sounds really strange, but it helped me a lot! We have a sectional sofa so I was able to separate it a little and pull the cushions apart so there was a place for my belly to go when I really needed to lay on my stomach. I laugh at myself now, but when you're pregnant and sleep deprived...you'll try anything to get some comfort! Good luck to you! ...Oh and I echo the body pillows! I actually let my (enormous) dog sleep behind me and my hubby slept in front of me so my back and my belly were supported...like I said "anything for comfort"! lol
~L.

C.,

I had the same problem when I was pregnant with both of my children. I don't know if you have seen them but I had bought one of those long pregnancy pillows. Amazingly enough, when I used it, I was much more comfortable and got ALOT more sleep.

Good Luck!

Get lots of pillows. Lots and lots and lots! Use them to prop and hold you in a comfortable position. A body pillow is another suggestion, but I always liked lots of individual pillows best.

I am 20 weeks along with our third and I have found through much trial and error that a big body pillow works great, and you don't have to spend an arm and a leg for one of those maternity pillows. I love to sleep on my stomach too, and I have found that when you start on your side and put the body pillow under your stomach and legs that you can lay into it, kind of like you're on your stomach but most of your weight is on your side. It's like hugging the pillow, you still feel like you're on your stomach because you kind of are by leaning on it, but the pressure isn't there because the pillow is proping your body up and taking that weight off your stomach. Also, when you're farther along and really getting big you might find it uncomfortable to lay on your side. You might want to look into a wedge pillow then because you can sleep on your back safely by lifting up your torso and sleeping with the top of your body elevated. This takes the weight pressure off of your lungs (which makes it hard to breathe)and can also be a different position when the strain of the belly pulling down while sleeping on your side gets too uncomfortable. Hope this helps and feel free to write me if you need anything else.

There's one way that you can kind of sleep on your stomach. I didn't use this much because I'm not a big stomach-sleeper, but my friend told me about it and I did give it a try. You start out on your side with a bunch of pillows at your front. Your head pillow should be turned so that it comes down in front of your chest. Lying on your left side you'll put your right arm across this pillow and you might add another pillow at your front for more support. You should have ~2 pillows for your legs - your right leg should bend and rest on those pillows. Your left leg should be straight and your left arm and shoulder should come out behind you like you're lying on your stomach. It's kind of like you're trying to lie on your stomach but the pillows are keeping you up a bit. You can do this into late pregnancy as well.

I hope this helps!

C.,
I second the body pillow! Although, it seemed like sleeping with a third person, and was cramped even in our queen bed! Toward the end of my last pregnancy I was so uncomfortable, it would take me like five minutes just to roll over! I guess the lack of sleep during pregnancy is like practice for when the baby comes! Good luck and Congrats!
S.

Must buy a body pillow!! Surround yourself with pillows, it's the only way! Good luck.

I had the same problem with my first pregnancy. I assumed that it wouldn't be good to sleep on my stomach because I felt I would be hurting the baby. During my second pregnancy I discussed this with my OB doctor and she said that it is perfectly okay to still sleep on your stomach when you are pregnant. I was really surprised by this and didn't believe it at first. We talked for quite a while about it and she ensured me that it is okay. So I did for the majority of the pregnancy was to ly on my stomach and slightly to the side so that I still felt like I was on my stomach. My OB doctor said that sleeping on your back,especially later in the pregnancy is actually the worse position because of blood flow issues. Give it a try or call you doctor and she if she agrees, worked great for me and the baby turned out just fine.

get yourself a body pillow or a round pillow to place between your knees when you sleep on your side. I found this helped out immensely with the pain I was having as my hips began to spread during my pregnancy.

Have fun with your pregnancy! ...just get the sleep now while you can!

I had the same problem. I put a pillow between my breast and my tummy to take the pressure off my tummy and I found I could sleep on my stomach that way.

I like sleeping on my stomach as well. When I was pregnant, I had a terrible time sleeping on my side. I heard the body pillows work well, but I never used one. I just used my husband!

Pillows, pillows, pillows!!! Put one in-between your knees, one to cuddle in your arms, and one behind your back to prevent you from completely rolling over. This has worked for me...I know where you're coming from! I'm pregnant with my second, and I've had to relearn all over again how I adjusted to sleeping with "a belly" during my first pregnancy. It's amazing how fast you forget the tricks you learn along the way!

Hi C.!

I know what you're going through. It is always tough to get good sleep when you're pregnant. I would first try a body pillow, it helped me to become more comfortable. Try drinking warm milk at night before bed and listen to some soft lulling music. Good Luck!

Gwyne

I to am a tummy sleeper and body pillows and and reg pillows work wonders while pregnant. Pillows Pillows Pillows they work well. I have had three kids and it take a few weeks for your body to get used to a new sleep position but the pillows between your legs and arms will help your body make the transition to side sleeping. Good luck and congrats on your first baby!!!!!

C.,

I am pregnant with my 2nd child and owe all my sleep with both pregnancies to the snoogle body pillow. It is S shaped so it manuvers to cradle you in and can be put in many different positions to make you comfortable (it also can be used as a boppy once baby comes) I found mine online but I know that they have them at Babies-R-Us now too. They are pricey but definately worth it!

J.

Most women get insomnia during the late 1st tri. through the second.

Buy yourself a couple of body pillows to prop yourself up on.

I have heard that the body pillows work GREAT! However, I never had to buy one...here is what I did instead...I would take an extra pillow and do one of two things with it.

First I would lay on my side and place it inbetween my knee's, for whatever reason this worked wonders and I slept GREAT! My Midwife is the one who told me to do this, but I can't remember why.

When I wanted to lay on my stomach I would lay on my side and place the pillow vertically on the bed, so the top of the pillow reached my waist, then I would take whatever leg was on top and place it on the pillow and bend it as though I were laying on my side...hopefully this makes sense...In this postion I was able to ALMOST lay on my stomach without hurting the baby or myself....

LOL..I was just thinking it may be easier for you to go buy the body pillow...LOL...but if you have lots of extra pillows and want to play with them and see what's comfortable, I am almost positive you won't have to buy anything extra.

I had the exact same problem! I ended up getting a body pillow that worked wonderfully! I just got a regular one but I know that they make ones specifically design for pregnant women. Hope this helps!

Hi C.,

Wow, we've all been there. Ok, so what I did is I bought one of those squishy pillows that conforms to your body (you know the ones where you can press your hand in, and it leaves a handprint?) and I prop it under my belly, and my belly sinks in to a point, but then it holds and supports it. It's also good between the legs. You can probably put it under your belly and sleep half on your belly, because the pillow will support it but it won't be hard against your belly. Good luck!
Here's a link to an example of the pillows, but I found mine for $10 at Ross. http://www.tempurpedic.com/pillows/?tid=92798&IMSVisi...

A body pillow helped me alot .. thats the only way i could get comfortable and i was a stomach sleeper to .. so try getting a body pillow or rolling up a blanket next to you and kinda cuddling up with that ... sleep will never be the same after getting pregnant so you kinda have to get used to that .. cause you cant sleep when you are pregnant nor after they are born... it sucks.. but good luck and hopefully you get some good sleep here soon

You need to relax. You've got a long way to go and everything is going to take some adjustment and then re-adjustment a few weeks later.

Hi there... I always found it comfortable to sleep with a pillow between my knees on my side. It will really help when you get bigger too as that will take the stress off of your back... Hope this helps and you can get some much needed sleep. ~M.

The best thing I found was to buy a full body length pillow and sleep on my side hugging it and tucking it between my legs. It seems to help straighten out the back. I liked using it so much that I continue to use it every night...its been 4 years since my last baby! Good luck, this will get better.

Look at it as your body doing you a favor and getting you used to never getting a full-night's sleep again. I didn't sleep well through my 3 pregnancies. I did find it helpful though to support my body with extra pillows and a body pillow. I too like to sleep on my belly. I was able to sleep on my side leaning on to my belly if I wrapped myself around a body pillow. Good luck! One more thing: if you plan on nursing, it will be even longer before you can get back to belly sleeping. They are worth it though. Take care and happy holidays!

I am also pregnant with my first and in the beginning had a hard time sleeping. Try talking a warm bath or shower before bed and playing soft soothing music. I purchased a pregancy CD that played soft music and sounds of heartbeats that helped me sleep at night. Lavendar scent also helps...

M. H.

I am sure you have gotten this response by many but a body pillow works wonders. It supports that growing belly and you can wrap a leg around it or whatever makes you comfortable.

Lots of pillows all around your body.

You need pillows! Many differant sizes. I was the same way, and I had to have one for my legs, one for my upper arm, one for my head, and a little one for my lower arm to rest my hand on. Just keep moving pillows around until you feel completely comfortable. Sweet dreams!

Hi Cristin,

First off congratulations! Now I am almost 16 weeks along, and I have broken out my body pillow. It is big and bulky and gets in teh way of cuddling with my hubby. BUT I am able to put a leg on the pillow roll towards it and keep the pressure off of my belly. I feel more like I am on my stomach and much more comfortable. This helped a lot with my last pregnancy also.

Good luck, it is so hard not to get sleep when you are growing a little one in there!

Have you tried getting a body pillow, or try putting an extra pillow in between your legs.

Hi I am a tummy sleeper too! And nothing was harder than trying to sleep in another position. I bought pillows, pillow, and more pillows. Try tucking them under your knees along your back and under your tummy. You can also try sleeping foward on a pile of pillows. I'm sorry to say that untill baby is out you may have to adjust several times during the night from now on. All the best to you and congratulations! K. in town

I am a stomach sleeper too. I got a pillow called a Snoogle (I think from either Amazon or Babycenter) and it was really great. It is S shaped and the way it goes around your body and part supports your stomach it ALMOST feels like stomach sleeping.

You'll have to get used to sleeping on your side. It's the best for you, but I know... it takes some adjustment. The best advice someone gave me that makes a huge difference... pillows. You'll need a pillow to put under your belly (I had to use different sizes as the belly grew), and one to put between your legs. This helped me so much. Hopefully it works for you too. Happy dreaming!

Hi C., congratulations on the pregnancy! The overwhelming advice is the body pillow and I agree completely. To this day, I still sleep best with a pillow I can put beneath my leg and roll almost onto my belly but not quite. A note for later this summer...I had five summer pregnancies (wasn't planning well!) and to get relief and onto my belly for comfort, I would lay on an innertube in the water. I would fall asleep like this. They make special air matresses for pregnant women that has a space open for the belly, not sure what the cost was, I remember it being too much when I was pregnant.

I have to agree on the body pillow. I was a tummy sleeper as well, but the baby in the belly changed all that. I now have issues sleeping on my belly after all that time not doing so. Good luck to you, and congrats.

What I found helped me was to "snuggle" up with a couple of pillows when I slept on my side. Kind of hug one, and sometimes put one below my tummy where my top leg could rest on it. That would give me support for my arm and leg, while cushioning my belly. Kind of hard to explain, I hope you can figure out what I'm trying to describe. All else fails, sometimes sleeping in a nice recliner worked. Best of luck to you.