You should generally stop sleeping on your stomach during pregnancy between 12 to 18 weeks, as your baby and belly start to grow. Most experts recommend transitioning to side sleeping by around 12 to 14 weeks of pregnancy because sleeping on your stomach can put pressure on the uterus and baby, restrict blood flow, and cause discomfort. By the second trimester (around 16 to 18 weeks), it is often difficult and uncomfortable to sleep on your stomach due to the growing belly, and it is safer for you and your baby to avoid this position. Doctors advise making the switch early in the second trimester, and by around 28 weeks, sleeping on your side is the safest position for optimal blood flow and comfort. If you wake up on your back later in pregnancy, you should roll to your side to avoid potential risks related to pressure on major blood vessels.
In summary:
- Safe to sleep on stomach in early pregnancy (first trimester).
- Transition to side sleeping by 12 to 14 weeks.
- Avoid stomach sleeping after 16 to 18 weeks.
- Side sleeping is safest, especially after 28 weeks.
