Why are we told not to sleep on our right side?

Question

Yeah i know this is my 5th pregnancy but that last full term pregnancy i had was over 5 yrs ago lol and i cant remember why the doctors say not to sleep on your right side i just remember them saying it to me a couple times. Anyone know? Thank you sry for being so stupid and forgetting these things lol i remember some of the stuff about my other pregnancies just not all of it.

Answer 1

Some doctors recommend that pregnant women sleep on their LEFT side because the liver is on the right side of the abdomen and it may do better to take the pressure off the liver from the uterus.

Answer 2

I have never heard a doctor tell a pregnant woman not to sleep on her right side, but i know you are not supposed to lay a baby on it's left side due to the risk of sids and the fact that your heart is on your left side, laying a baby on it's left side puts pressure on the heart and the lungs

Answer 3

i dont think its that you are not allowed to sleep on your right side. i was told by my doctor to help the back pain i should sleep on my left side. so maybe you were told not so sleep on your right side for that reason

Answer 4

im having baby number 6 and have NEVER been told to sleep in any postion just 1 thats comfortable for me

the baby soon lets u know when to move

in them last few weeks im so happy just to get any sleep ill sleep standing if its the only comfortable way!

Answer 5

More blood and oxygen can travel to the baby when you sleep on your left side.  But as long as you're not sleeping on your back you'll be fine.  (My mother is a labour and delivery nurse, I asked her not too long ago. lol)

Answer 6

I have only heard not to sleep on your stomach for obvious reasons and not your back because its too much pressure on your nerves, colon etc. but I have always been told to sleep on your sides. Both are okay, but left is better cause of the blood flow on that side better to get to your baby and to your legs that way. They also say if you wake up and you find your self on your back, no harm done just get back on your left side. Your not stupid, gosh you cant remember everything your a busy mom.

Answer 7

Sleep however you can, its hard enough to get sleep when you're pregnant without worrying about this kind of stuff.  My baby is very healthy and doing great and I sleep on my back every night because that's the only way I feel comfortable.  

Answer 8

For blood circulation.  but I sleep how ever I can.  Sleep sleep sleep how you can!!!!

Answer 9

they say TO sleep on your LEFT side. It is so the baby doesn't lay on its umbilical cord. And circulation is better that way. I don't know why , but thats what my doc has told me also.

Answer 10

There is an artery or vein that runs along that side that you could constrict blood flow by laying on it.  It is only important to not lay on that side in later pregnancy.

Answer 11

it's better to sleep on your left side because of the blood flow to your baby, you can sleep on your right side, that's just a myth, but the left side gives better blood flow to the baby.

Answer 12

Some doctors specifically recommend that pregnant women sleep on the left side. Because your liver is on the right side of your abdomen, lying on your left side helps keep the uterus off that large organ. Sleeping on the left side also improves circulation to the heart and allows for the best blood flow to the fetus, uterus, and kidneys.

But don't drive yourself crazy worrying that you might roll over onto your back during the night. Shifting positions is a natural part of sleeping that you can't control.

Answer 13

The big deal is usually during labor when the nurse notices that the babys heart rate slows they will usually put you on your left side, which displaces the babies weight from your artery that supplies the baby, when you lie flat on your back the baby compresses this artery, it has nothing to do with the baby lying on its umbilical cord.  and you can lie on your right side unless contrainidcated bc of a procedure or somethign i dont know about in your situation- im a nurse