Sleeping on your back is your best bet, for two reasons: First, your breasts won't be underneath you or in between your arms, where they'll get in the way and make it harder to sleep comfortably, says Reverie Sleep Advisory Board Member Amelia Bailey, MD.
May help improve your posture
A pillow helps keep your spine in alignment while you sleep, which can not only relieve lower back pain and pressure, but keep your spine symmetrical.
Sleeping on your stomach is bad for your breasts because they are pressed against the bed for hours. The best sleeping positions for your breasts include sleeping on your back or on your side with a pillow under the breasts.
Lying on the back is the best sleep position for neck pain, as it prevents the misalignment that can occur in the side or stomach positions. To prevent neck pain, use a pillow that supports the neck while letting your head sink deeper. Memory foam pillows or pillows with a divot for the head are good options.
The worst sleep position: On your stomach
“This position puts the most pressure on your spine's muscles and joints because it flattens the natural curve of your spine,” he says. “Sleeping on your stomach also forces you to turn your neck, which can cause neck and upper back pain.”
Research reveals more women prefer to sleep on the left side of the bed than the right - and the reason why is super cute.
The pillow for your head should support your head, the natural curve of your neck, and your shoulders. Sleeping on your stomach can create stress on the back because the spine can be put out of position.
Use a small pillow underneath the head and neck (not shoulders) to keep everything in alignment. Even better, a small cylindrical pillow in the crook of your neck supports your neck and keeps your head neutral on the mattress.
How to choose and use the best pillow. The rule of thumb for a proper pillow is that it should keep your neck parallel to the mattress, rather than bent down or up. “The most common mistake people make is choosing a pillow that bends your neck forward or to one side,” Dr. Bang says.
In general, breast development begins between the ages of 8 and 13. A girl's breasts are typically fully developed by age 17 or 18, however in some cases they can continue to grow into her early twenties.
Anatomically, the adult breast sits atop the pectoralis muscle (the "pec" chest muscle), which is atop the ribcage. The breast tissue extends horizontally (side-to-side) from the edge of the sternum (the firm flat bone in the middle of the chest) out to the midaxillary line (the center of the axilla, or underarm).
Sleeping on your side without support is a no-no as well, because it causes your Cooper's ligaments to stretch, and as they stretch, your breasts will increasingly sag. What's the solution? Sleep on your back.
Placing a pillow between your legs can help reduce muscle tension by preventing your legs from pulling, providing you with a better night's sleep and less pain and undue stress on your back in the morning.
Sleeping with your bottom arm under your pillow or your top leg stretched out can lead straight to shoulder and neck pain. Side sleep can also put pressure on your stomach and lungs, but for the most part it's a safe and popular choice.
The notch above the sternum is called the suprasternal notch. These two areas should be level when lying on your side. If the philtrum is lying higher than the suprasternal notch then your pillow is too high. If the philtrum is lying lower than the suprasternal notch then your pillow is too low.
Your head should be level when it's on the pillow. Your ears should be in a parallel line with your shoulders. The pillow should not be so thick that your chin is tucked into your chest. Or the opposite, it should not be so flat that your chin is elevated in the air.
If you lay mainly on your back, you can use a pillow to support your arm either by your side (pillow under arm) or out to the side (if your movement allows). Use a small pillow to support the weight of the arm. Many people need two pillows, one under the shoulder blade and one under the arm.
What is the best sleeping position for neck pain? Two sleeping positions are easiest on the neck: on your side or on your back. If you sleep on your back, choose a rounded pillow to support the natural curve of your neck, with a flatter pillow cushioning your head.
Overall, more Americans sleep on the right side of the bed than the left (while lying down), with more men than women preferring this side (58% vs. 50%) Right side sleeping males feel relaxed instead of stressed most of the time when compared to men sleeping on the left (71% vs. 60%)
Men are more likely to sleep where danger is more likely to come from, usually either closer to the bedroom door or the window, for protection. This side tends to be the right side of the bed. Shopping for a new mattress with your mate? Here are some helpful mattress-buying tips for couples.
An overwhelming majority of men (practically 9 in 10) tell us that they all sleep on the right side of the bed. And their reasons for doing so are all very different. Some listeners claim that they choose the right side as a way to "protect" their significant other.