Why is it that pregnant women are supposed to sleep on their left side at night and not on the right?

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Answers:
I was told after being confined to bed when pregnant with my son that laying on your left side allowed for maxmium blood flow to reach the fetus therefore allowing the fetus to recieve the needed nutrients with less struggle and the fetus would be able to grow and thrive easier.

Other Answers:
I was told I needed to sleep on my right side. It keeps the extra weight from putting more strain on the heart, which is already overworked during pregnancy.

I had high risk pregnancies with both my children and was on bed rest and the nurses at the hospital told me it has something to do with not put pressure on one of your major arteries that is supplying blood to the baby. Increased blood flow. Don't know if that is exactly right but that is what I was told.

This is to decrease your blood pressure, which is normally a little higer with pregnancy due to the increased blood volume that occurs when the blood supply increases to accommidate the fetus. So if you've been told to sleep on the left, it's to decrease blood pressure. Hope that helps.

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Why is it that pregnant women are supposed to sleep on their left side at night and not on the right?

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