1st Trimester – Best Sleeping Positions

Side sleeping is definitely the best position during pregnancy, whether it’s the first 12 weeks or the last 12 days of pregnancy.  This might surprise you to hear that sleeping on your left side is su

1st Trimester – Best Sleeping Positions

Best Option - Sleeping on Side (SOS)

Side sleeping is definitely the best position during pregnancy, whether it’s the first 12 weeks or the last 12 days of pregnancy.  This might surprise you to hear that sleeping on your left side is superior to sleeping on the right during pregnancy.

The reason is simple because if you lie on your right side, you’ll put undue pressure on organs like your liver. On the other hand, a woman lying on the left side improves circulation and blood flow, allowing vital nutrients to reach the placenta.

Let it be clear that you don’t feel like you’re restricted to one spot, though. You should feel free to lay on your right side or your back when you need to shift your weight. In the first trimester, your sleeping position won’t make much of a difference, so just sleep in whatever position makes you most comfortable before you have a bump in the way.

What about Sleeping on Back?

This position is suitable during the first trimester but should be avoided during the later stages of pregnancy. The simple reason is that it puts pressure on the blood vessels, back, and spine as your uterus increases in size. While this isn’t a factor during the first weeks of your pregnancy, it’s something to be aware of as time passes.

Important to notice back sleeping is also associated with muscle pain and even hemorrhoids. It could also cause your blood pressure to drop, which contributes to dizziness and vertigo which should be avoided. And finally, if you suffer from sleep apnea, we recommend avoiding sleeping on your back; you will notice when it is time to start sleeping on your side when it gets hard to breathe on your back.

 

How to Get Enough Rest While Pregnant

You’ll probably endure plenty of sleepless nights once the baby arrives, so it’s important to get enough sleep while you can.

For more chronic sleep problems, lifestyle changes like abandoning television and electronics before bed are helpful. Pregnant women should not underestimate the effect of stress on their sleep. Stress reduction techniques are essential.

“It's clearly a time when there are a lot of biological changes going on, but, in addition, expectant parents may be moving homes or just trying to figure out what they’re going to do after the baby is born, “There can be a lot of other stressors, and sometimes the first chance that people get to think about it is when the lights go out. Making to-do lists for the next day before bedtime to avoid taking stress to bed with you. Once the baby comes, make sure to prioritize sleep, even though your lifestyle will change.

“People are going to want to come over, but don’t worry so much about making sure that the house is clean and all of that,” she says. “Set priorities around getting enough sleep and know that it’s going to take a few months.”