Why the left side?

Question

Why do they tell you to sleep on your left side when you are pregnant? I understand why they tell you to sleep on your side but why your left side in particular?

Answer 1

The answer to this question lies in the anatomy of the abdomen, which has to harbor the ever-increasing uterus as the baby grows. The Vena Cava is the main vein that drains the entire lower half of the body. Anatomically, it lies just to the right of the midline--just on the right side of your spine. As the baby gets bigger, certainly the heavier uterus, lying flat on the Vena Cava will (like stepping on a garden hose) obstruct flow up towards the heart. The drainage of the lower half of the body becomes sluggish, which not only increases the swelling of your ankles, feet, and legs, but will also impact on hemorrhoids as well. And decreased return of blood flow to the heart will cause hypotension (lowered blood pressure) down the line and resulting diminished arterial blood flow to the uterus, placenta, and baby.
Sometimes this hypotension is evident when a woman has an ultrasound, during which she lies flat. One of the symptoms of hypotension is nausea that will accompany the light-headedness. In answer to your question, lying on the back is the worst ossible position in the third trimester. Lying on the right side is better than lying on your back, but lying on your left side is the best of all, because this is the position which will have the least amount of weight upon the Vena Cava.

Answer 2

There is a muscle on each side of your stomach - the one on the left side is bigger and stronger than the one on your right side - the idea being it can help support your stomach better than your smaller one on the right side. But if you find laying on your right side to be comfortable, don't be afraid too lay on it as well.

Another reason has to do with your stomach and heartburn - when you lay on your left side your stomach is in a position less likely to cause you discomfort on your other side or your back acid can be very close to the opening - which can be at time very uncomfortable especially late in pregnancy - but again if you need a change of position and are not having any problems or discomfort you can lay on your right side too.

Good luck and happy resting

Answer 3

The Vena Cava is the main vein that drains the entire lower half of the body. As the baby gets bigger, it can obstruct the flow up towards the heart. The drainage of the lower half of the body becomes slow, which increases the swelling of your ankles, feet, and legs. The left size allows for greater circulation and flow of this vein~

Answer 4

I think with anyone if you lie of your left side you get a better blood supply to your heart which is important in pregnancy as everything inside you gets squashed together so a better flow i would imagine would be better for your heart and for the baby i remember a doctor saying this to my husband who has heart troubles (not the baby bit though lol)

Answer 5

i asked that question about 6 weeks ago. There is a main artery to the heart on the right side and when the baby lays on it it interferes with your blood pressure.. So they tell you to lay on your left side so that the baby isn't on that main blood vessel.

Answer 6

It's the side that lets the blood flow through/to the placenta most easily...I think. It was explained to me by my midwife but I forgot since then!

Answer 7

The reason is that the liver is on the right side of your body, and you growing belly may compress it. For more info : http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/pregnancy/sleep_during_pregnancy.html

Answer 8

The only real answer is that it INCREASES the blood circulation to the fetus.

Answer 9

its to do with braxton hicks contractions, my midwife tell me to lie on my left side when im havinng lots as this is meant to ease them- it also helps heartburn

good luck

Answer 10

Ive had 2 kids and ive never heard of this before. i lay on my back during both pregnancies as it was most comfy