Which Sleep Position Is Safe?

Finding a comfortable position for sleep during the last few months of pregnancy is not easy, but it could be important for you and your developing baby. Here are the best and worst sleeping positions for the third trimester...

- Sahana Bhandari

One of the hardest things about pregnancy is getting a good night’s sleep. By the time you are in your third trimester, you feel heavy, you’re uncomfortable, your hips ache and sound sleep has become a hazy memory. It’s normal for your sleep to get worse in the third trimester. And, if this is the case with you, you’re not alone. More than half of would-be-mums across the world experience this.

During the early stages of pregnancy, development of the foetus is still in the pelvic cavity. Hence, your sleeping position will not affect your baby. By the third trimester, your bump is simply too big to allow you to lie down comfortably. In the final four to six weeks, if you really can’t get comfy in bed, you may find you get your best rest propped up in a comfy chair or sofa instead.

IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP POSITION

Dr Sanjay Shah, practising consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Amee Maternity Hospital at Dahisar, Mumbai, says, “Ideally, a pregnant woman must receive around eight hours of sound sleep. Hence, finding a proper sleeping position is essential.” However, lack of sleep in the third trimester won’t harm your baby. It may leave you frustrated and exhausted, but relax, your baby sleeps even when you’re wide awake.

THE BEST POSITION