Dear Doctor,

I’m seven months pregnant and seem to find difficulty getting a comfortable position as the days go by. I can only sleep sideways and this makes my hip area hurt seriously the next day.

I have been told that sleeping on my back is not good. Is this true? What kind of damage can this do to my baby? No one has a proper explanation and I’m beginning to think that my back might just be the only solution I have left.

Please help me as I find myself dreading to go to bed.

Rita

Dear Rita

As such, more than 50 per cent of pregnant women with advanced pregnancy do not sleep well.

The discomfort because of the increased tummy size, breathlessness, heart burn, leg cramps, frequency of urination due to pressure on the urinary bladder, are some of the factors that disturb sleep. Also, the excitement, anxiety, mental stress, mixed feelings associated with impending child birth, also tend to disturb sleep.

Sleep gets disturbed because of the change in position to which one is habituated. If one is used to sleeping on the abdomen, it becomes difficult as the abdomen becomes huge with advanced pregnancy and is in the way. While sleeping in this position, the uterus can be compressed which is not safe for the baby. It also puts pressure on the already sore and congested breasts which can cause pain.

Sleeping on the back during advanced pregnancy is also not a very good idea. This can cause backache to which a pregnant woman is already prone due to multiple reasons. It also puts pressure on the big vessels of the body like aorta and inferior vena cava, thus compromising on the return of blood to the heart and pumping of the heart. This can cause low blood pressure which manifests as feeling dizzy or even fainting. In severe cases it can cause shock, needing urgent resuscitation.

In advanced pregnancy, for the growing baby it is good to sleep on the left side. It helps the flow of blood and nutrients to the placenta. It also helps the kidneys to get rid of waste products and fluids from the body. This, in turn, reduces any swelling present on ankles and feet.

Lie on your left side, with your knees bent up and two or more pillows placed between your knees. This keeps the pressure off the muscles and also around the hips and pelvis. Placing a wedge-shaped pillow under the buttocks in bed can help ease the strain on your back.

If you wake up in the night and find yourself lying on your back, try not to worry. It’s normal to move around in your sleep. Just turn over to your left side again to go back to sleep. You could try using pillows to help keep you on your left side and to stop you from rolling on your back.

If lying on the side causes pain in your hips, a foam or cushion can be used to support it. Taking calcium in adequate amount will help reduce this pain. It is advisable to take a nap whenever you find time. A nap in a sofa or armchair would be both comfortable as well as useful.

Dr. Rachna is a specialist in internal medicine at Ruhengeri Hospital.