Side sleeping: Left vs. right
Doctors generally recommend sleeping on your side
during pregnancy, especially as time goes on. Why is this exactly? It boils
down to blood flow. But the good news is that a 2019 review of medical studies
found that either side is fine — really.
Left side
Sleeping on your left side is often referred to as the
“ideal” scenario during pregnancy.
Positioning yourself on the left side of your body
allows for optimal blood flow from the inferior vena cava (IVC), which is a
large vein that runs parallel to your spine on the right side. It carries blood
to your heart and, in turn, to your baby.
Sleeping on your left side also takes the pressure off
your liver and your kidneys. This means more room to function properly, helping
with swelling issues in your hands, ankles, and feet.
Right
So, if left is ideal — should you avoid the right
side? Not necessarily.
That 2019 study review showed equal safety with
sleeping on the left and right sides. There’s a very slight risk of compression
issues with the IVC when you sleep on the right, but it’s mostly a matter of
where you’re most comfortable.