From 28 weeks, go to sleep on your side

In the third trimester, doctors advise going to sleep on your side — left or right, whichever feels more comfortable. When you lie on your back, the heavy womb presses on large blood vessels and less blood may reach your baby. The research behind obstetric guidance has linked going to sleep on your back after 28 weeks with a higher risk of stillbirth.

What matters most is the position you fall asleep in, because that is where you spend the longest stretch of the night. Woke up on your back? Don't panic — just roll onto your side and go back to sleep. You can't control your position all night, and you don't need to.

What helps:

• a pillow between your knees and under your bump;
• a rolled-up blanket behind your back so you don't roll over;
• daytime naps on your side too.

One more thing: if your baby is moving noticeably less than usual, don't wait until morning — call your doctor or go to the maternity hospital straight away.