What should pregnant women do if they feel uncomfortable sleeping on their left side?

The sleeping position of pregnant women is also controlled by their gradually growing belly. Pregnant women are not allowed to roll over when sleeping, otherwise they may crush the baby in their belly. However, some pregnant women may be used to their previous sleeping positions and it may be difficult to change them after pregnancy. For example, some pregnant women find it very uncomfortable to sleep on their left side, and some even have trouble falling asleep. Let’s take a look at what to do if pregnant women feel uncomfortable sleeping on the left side?

Things about pregnancy and childbirth: left side lying position

After entering the middle and late stages of pregnancy, doctors often recommend that expectant mothers sleep in the left side position. As for why they should sleep in the left side position, few people can explain it clearly. In fact, the basis for recommending the left side lying position is the position of the human body's large blood vessels. Our spine is located in the middle of the human body, the inferior vena cava is located on the right side of the spine, and the abdominal aorta is located on the left side of the spine (with a few exceptions). In the middle and late stages of pregnancy, if you still sleep in a supine position, the heavy uterus will compress the inferior vena cava and abdominal aorta at the same time. Many expectant mothers will have their blood circulation affected, feel uncomfortable, have symptoms such as palpitations and shortness of breath, and be unable to fall asleep. Since veins are more affected than arteries under the same pressure, it is generally recommended to lie on the left side and compress the abdominal aorta.

How to lie on your left side?

It should be a 15-30 degree left-side lying position, not a 90 degree left-side lying position. You will know it if you try it. Lying on the left side at 90 degrees can sometimes be uncomfortable, and this posture is difficult to maintain for a long time. I sleep on my left side, but I keep turning over and changing positions unconsciously after falling asleep. What should I do? It is best to use a long pillow and place it on one side of the body so that I will not turn over and over.

What to do if lying on the left side is uncomfortable?

The main reason for recommending lying on the left side is that we are worried that you will feel uncomfortable. If lying on the left side is uncomfortable, then change to lying on the right side. What if lying on your back is comfortable, but lying on your left side is uncomfortable? You can sleep in any position that is comfortable. Lying on your left side is a general suggestion for ordinary people, not mandatory. Since you are not an ordinary person, don't do it in a general way!

Will lying on the side put pressure on the fetus?

The side-lying position will not put pressure on the fetus because the fetus is protected by amniotic fluid in the uterus. For some expectant mothers, when they lie in the left side lying position, the fetus will have a significant increase in fetal movements, with kicking and hitting around. If your sleeping position causes your baby's fetal movements to increase significantly and you can't fall asleep, then you have to change your position.