In this section your can find information on how you can look after yourself during your pregnancy, information on your antenatal appointments and our specialist maternity teams.

Sleep On Your Side

*Information from Tommy’s*

In the third trimester our advice is to go sleep on your side because research has shown that this is safer for baby. This includes night sleep and day time naps.

Can I sleep on my back during pregnancy?

Research has shown that in the third trimester (after 28 weeks of pregnancy) going to sleep on your back increases your risk of stillbirth. As the link has now been shown in 6 separate trials, our advice is to go to sleep on your side in the third trimester because it is safer for your baby. The advice relates to any episode of sleep, including:

  • going to sleep at night
  • returning to sleep if you wake in the night
  • day time naps.

We don’t want you to become anxious about this. If your pregnancy is uncomplicated your risk of stillbirth is low (3 to 4 in 1000 babies are stillborn in the UK). Going to sleep on your side will make it even lower. If you wake up on your back in the night, don’t panic, just settle back on your side.

Tips for sleeping on your side in pregnancy:

  • Put pillows behind you to prevent falling on your back. It won’t prevent you being on your back for certain but is likely to make it more uncomfortable.
  • If you have long hair, try tying it in a low bun, which may make it uncomfortable to sleep on your back for any length of time.
  • If you wake up for any reason during the night, check your position and go back to sleep on your side.
  • If you are likely to nap during the day pay the same attention to sleep position during the day as you would during the night.