As your pregnancy progresses, finding a restful sleeping position may become difficult. Extra pillows placed at your back, against your stomach and between your knees will make you comfortable.

Your doctor or midwife may encourage you to sleep on your left side, rather than on your right, as well. While there’s no harm to sleeping on your right side, lying on your left may help your kidneys empty more efficiently.

As your uterus and your baby grow, sleeping on your back will become less comfortable. Putting the full weight of your uterus on your spine, back muscles, intestines and veins can give you a backache or hemorrhoids, as well as impaired breathing and circulation. Try to sleep on your side until after the baby is born; you’ll likely find it far more comfortable.

While research over the years has been mixed, several large studies point to a link between sleeping on your back in later pregnancy and a higher risk of stillbirth. So it’s advisable to sleep on your side. If you wake up in the middle of the night on your back, don’t panic. Just roll over to your side.

This message is not intended to provide individual medical advice. Always seek the advice of a physician or qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have about your health or medical condition, your breastfeeding issues and your infant's health. Never disregard, avoid or delay contacting a doctor or other qualified professional because of something you have read in our emails, webpages or other electronic communications.

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