Pregnancy Concerns: Sleeping on Your Left Side

For pregnant women, sleeping can present a major problem. The increasing pressure that occurs due to the increasing size of the uterus can cause a lot of problems in the body. If you sleep straight during your pregnancy, there is a lot of pressure exerted on the inferior vena cava. This may cause disfiguring of the vein and subsequently, lots of pain. Sleeping on left side can provide a simple solution.

Sleeping on Left Side Alleviates Pressure

The inferior vena cava is an important vein that transports blood from the lower extremities of the body to the heart. Pressure on the vein can immediately cause numbness and light headedness. Therefore, it is recommended that pregnant women should sleep on their left side. This position allows for maximum flow of blood to the fetus. This also helps to improve the functioning of the kidneys.

Edema, which sometimes happens due to the increase volume of blood in the body, can also be decreased by sleeping on the right hand side. This position also avoids unnecessary pressure on the liver.