How do you Stop Sleeping on Stomach?

[Jo-Anne]

Most of my life I have slept on my stomach - it was my most comfortable position. For past few years, when I wake up and am on my stomach, the pain is quite extreme and I have a hard time just turning myself over to lie on back and stretch it out. I now start out on my side with 3 pillows - one between knees, one to clutch and one under head. Unfortnately, I usually end up on my stomach at some point in the night. Is there any method that will ensure I stay sleeping on side or back?

 

[kaytieeldr]

More pillows. Seriously. Get a couple of those body pillows, or roll up a couple of comforters - maybe even two together for more support. Put one where your back will be, and adjust it to approximately conform to the way you want to sleep. After you're in bed, mold the second pillow/roll to your front.

You could also try sleeping on your back - works best if you don't snore

 

[Tinijocaro]

I pull one knee up to relieve some of the pressure that stomach sleeping causes for my back. Is that where your pain is? I also sleep with my hands down by my stomach, I suppose laying on a pillow would serve the same purpose.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I would find out why you have pain sleeping on your stomach...

 

[manning]

I would find out why you have pain sleeping on your stomach...

You better have it checked out. I used to sleep on my stomach until I was getting discomfort. Turned out to be colon cancer. Never knew I had it until I bled one day. Turned out to be a large tumor that was pressing against other organs.

It may be nothing and again could be something.

 

[MushyMushy]

I'm so with you! I've developed some serious neck problems from sleeping on my stomach and having such a hard time breaking it. I started taking Ambien and will start out sleeping on my back, but then I end up rolling right back on my stomach and get my neck twisted all out of whack in the middle of the night.

I really like kaytieeldr's idea. I might have to try that myself.

 

[JessicaR]

Most of my life I have slept on my stomach - it was my most comfortable position. For past few years, when I wake up and am on my stomach, the pain is quite extreme and I have a hard time just turning myself over to lie on back and stretch it out. I now start out on my side with 3 pillows - one between knees, one to clutch and one under head. Unfortnately, I usually end up on my stomach at some point in the night. Is there any method that will ensure I stay sleeping on side or back?

Back surgery and pregnancy. Those are the only times I didn't sleep on my stomach.

Like other suggested find out why you have such pain when you sleep on your stomach. Is it your back? You could sew a tennis ball in a tee shirt pocket making it uncomfortable to sleep on your stomach.

 

[NMAmy]

Back surgery and pregnancy. Those are the only times I didn't sleep on my stomach.

Yep, pregnancy broke me of the habit of sleeping on my stomach. It's been almost 19 years now so it seemed to work pretty well.

 

[overlyspoiled4sure]

I have no idea! Pregnancy made me a side sleeper but the day the kids were born I was sleeping on my stomach!! Felt just sooooooo good.

For the poster who discovered colon cancer by stomach sleeping, I hear you. I was uncomfortable for awhile & the problem ended up being ulcerative colitis. Tummy sleeping was an additional irritation to the colon. I wondered why it wasn't as comfy but never put 2 & 2 together until after diagnosis.

I've given up trying to avoid tummy sleeping. Just won't work for me but good luck trying to break it.