What's Your Favorite Sleeping Position?
By Marsha
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
Midland, Michigan
October 8, 2015 8:53pm CST
Do you ever get tired of sleeping in the same position all the time? If you have a partner, I'm not talking about that, pretend that you're sleeping alone. I'm guessing most people sleep on one side or the other, or just on their backs.
When I was a young person, I slept on my stomach too, but as I got older and the arthritis in my knees got worse I had to get used to sleeping differently. I prefer sleeping on my right side, semi-curled up, but for the past year I've heard my heartbeat in my right ear when laying on it, unless my husband's snoring drowns it out, and I can't block it out—my heartbeat that is.
So, usually I move between laying on my back with a pillow under my knees for support, or my left side. I should probably try to have a pillow under my feet to improve circulation while sleeping, but then my feet would get cold I think.
15 people like this
22 responses
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
15 Oct 15
I attribute it to being less limber now making it harder for me to sleep on my stomach. Also, I have bad knees and having my knees under my weight hurts sometimes, so I don't bother with that position any longer for that reason.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
15 Oct 15
@TheHorse you must get behind on your school grading or paperwork if you pass out quite a bit. That's why studying on a bed isn't such a good idea most times, 
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
15 Oct 15
@MarshaMusselman I'm sometimes reading or grading papers and then...I pass out. That leaves me on my back.
2 people like this
@rosekiss (30413)
• Eugene, Oregon
9 Oct 15
I would prefer sleeping on my side, as I just can't sleep on my back or stomach. I have lower back pain so I sleep on my side, with my legs slightly bent, but I don't put a pillow between my knees, as some do. i have never slept with any pillows between my knees. Some people sleep on two pillows, but I have never done that either. I suppose I might start though, as it might help my back and raise me up a little higher off the mattress.
2 people like this
@rosekiss (30413)
• Eugene, Oregon
11 Oct 15
@MarshaMusselman The thing of it is, I toss and turn a lot so not sure putting a pillow under my kness would help, but I have tried putting a pillow under my back to get support I do have a body pillow, and I might try that.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
12 Oct 15
@rosekiss I move around quite a bit too, but not as much lately as I used to do. I found the pillow under my knees worked just as well when laying on one side or the other as it did when I was on my back. But I was able to get used to is, not sure if everyone would. I had a body pillow years back, not sure what happened to that. Can't lose it though, it's too big for that. 
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
11 Oct 15
I began sleeping with a pillow under my knees or lower thighs because I heard it relieves pressure from the back. I've slept with pillows between my knees before especially when pregnant, but normally I just need a small one under my left knee which doesn't have full extension any longer. I think I babied that knee too much when I was in my forties.
I usually only sleep on one pillow and it's not very plump either. You might try a small pillow under your knees to help your back too.
1 person likes this
@owstalaga (4825)
• Philippines
9 Oct 15
Well I don't have a favorite sleeping position but in the recent years I prefer to sleep on my back with my legs elevated. 
. As long as I can sleep well I don't think my sleeping position matters. 
I don't really notice maybe I just sleep on my sides too or be in any position while asleep. All I remember is I sleep on my back.
. As long as I can sleep well I don't think my sleeping position matters. I don't really notice maybe I just sleep on my sides too or be in any position while asleep. All I remember is I sleep on my back.1 person likes this
@owstalaga (4825)
• Philippines
13 Oct 15
@MarshaMusselman Oh that sounds like a difficult situation, waking up every time you change sleeping position. Somebody or something should hold you down on your back maybe, like a pet on top of you.
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
13 Oct 15
Years ago I'd flip around all night long without knowing I was doing so or when, but now, I wake up each time I change positions, or at least almost all the times I change I wake up. Sometimes I can't get back to sleep in one particular position, and have to flip back onto my back once again even though that does get tiring after a while.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
9 Oct 15
I have had a couple of herniated disks for many years now, and I could not even lie on my back, let alone sleep on it. I got used to sleeping on my left side, with my knees drawn up a bit to relieve pressure on the lower back. But my husband likes the left side of the bed, and my mattress is so broken down that if I sleep on my left side facing inwards, I feel like I am falling off the bed. And, I like facing outward. I sleep fine on my right side, but I too, hear my heartbeat in my right ear only, though not every night. Sleep should be easy, why is it so hard to achieve?
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
9 Oct 15
Did you ever find out why you can hear your heartbeat? I know it's not uncommon, and it's better than hearing ringing during the day, but annoying still.
My husband sleeps on the left side of the bed and our newest mattress purchases about ten years ago didn't need to be flipped every six months like the older beds, but I think that was a mistake as now we're beginning to dent the bed from being in the same spot all these years. It's not so bad yet that I feel like I'm rolling off the bed, but I'm sure those days are coming.
I don't get all the sleep I want because I have too many things to think about. I guess if I really needed the sleep, I'd be able to sleep. Every day is different.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
9 Oct 15
@MarshaMusselman This mattress needs to be replaced and I will never buy a mattress that can't be flipped ever again! The funny thing is, neither one of us in on the edge and we don't sit on the sides of the bed, so this sagging is inexplicable. I am always tired early, get to bed later just as I get my second wind, lol.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
9 Oct 15
@MarshaMusselman The position of the comments continues to flummox me. I think they should be at the top of the page until we've answered them, but sometimes they are at the bottom, as you found. Sorry you're having issues at the moment, I hope it gets sorted for you.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
9 Oct 15
I've slept with a pillow under my knees for so long that when I go to the dentist i now need a pillow under my left knee. I used to think I had a torn meniscus as it doesn't bend properly, but I think I babied it for too long when younger and it lost it's elasticity. (There's a better term for that, but I don't remember it at the moment).
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
9 Oct 15
Weird! Earlier, Janet, when I saw that you commented it was located at the bottom of the page even though you were here while I was commenting on that person's response. Now it's moved back into the correct position. I was scratching my head over that one and in fact had to take another look just now to see if I was on the same discussion.
i'm having a few issues with being able to like and respond, but it could be the page isn't completely loaded at that moment in time.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40843)
• Laguna Woods, California
14 Oct 15
I usually start out on my back, turn onto my left side as I drift off, and wake up sleeping on my stomach!
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
15 Oct 15
I slept on all sides when I was a bit younger, but can mostly manage only my back and left side mostly now. Rarely do I wake up on a side I didn't remember flipping over to in the middle of the night, in fact I will usually change positions after getting up in the middle of the night to use the facilities. IT's been years since I've been able to sleep straight through the night.
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
9 Oct 15
For me it is the fetal position. The more tired the more coiled I am. Usually on my right side.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
9 Oct 15
I coil up into that position if my back is bothering me overmuch. But I also know how to push on sore muscles that are hurting and find the offending one to release pressure. It could take several days of working on the area, but it usually helps out immensely.
Otherwise, I don't know whether my knees would deal with that much of a coil.
Thanks for stopping by. I about gave up. Are your actual initials EY ?
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
29 Oct 15
I start most nights flat on my back
1 person likes this
@taramarie39 (667)
• Williamsburg, Virginia
9 Oct 15
I love sleping in my stomach but I can tell as I get older that it might have to change. Too bad, I love sleeping in my stomach. It's comforting.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
9 Oct 15
I don't know that I felt comforted sleeping on my stomach, but it was a way to mix things up, and it was my preferred position if I had an upset stomach. If my stomach is doing really bad, I'll try doing a combination side/stomach, not the easiest thing to do.
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
9 Oct 15
I prefer sleeping on my right side because I have a few problems with my left shoulder. My legs are usually stretched out so I could sleep on a pretty skinny bed.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
15 Oct 15
Although I can sleep with my legs stretched out, periodically I'll get a charlie-horse in one of my calf muscles when sleeping that way, so I minimize doing it on purpose. I try to relax my legs rather than stretch them out because of that.
@JaneApril (334)
• Philippines
10 Oct 15
I am pregnant so I sleep on my right side with cushions between my legs !
My condition makes it hard for me to find a comfortable sleeping position :(
but it's ok .. whenever I think of my baby, all of my discomforts fade.
@DianneN (254949)
• United States
14 Oct 15
I know what you mean about hearing your heartbeat. Ugh! I start off sleeping in the fetal position on my left side, then flip to my right. By then, I must be all over the place, because I sometimes wake up face down or on my back. Go figure! Good luck with your arthritis.
@atv818 (1980)
• United Arab Emirates
9 Oct 15
When I was single, I used to sleep comfortably lying on my back. During and after pregnancy, I had been sleeping on my left side. Though I don't immediately sleep on my left side, I lay on my back first for a few minutes. Once I turn to my left side then it's dreamland off I go. I stay this way usually until day time so sometimes half of my body is sooooo numb once awake!
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
9 Oct 15
On my right side, but I usually don't wake up in a similar position I went to sleep in, anyway.
@humanity_revisited (92)
• Mumbai, India
9 Oct 15
FOR ME BEST SLEEPING POSITION IS LYING ON MY BACK AND THEN COMFORTABLY RELAXED
@sanketwagh (224)
• India
9 Oct 15
i love to sleep on the stomach cause it relaxes me a lot and also i have read in an article about it that this position of sleeping helps in improving the digestion power of ones body. also i would like to add an advantage to this is that you could sleep a bit while u r really working as well as u would work a bit as well in between ur sleep
