Why should pregnant women lie on their left side?

For the general population, everyone knows that the sleeping position should be lying on the back or on the right side, but for pregnant women, neither of these two positions is suitable. The sleeping position for pregnant mothers is to lie on their left side. So, why should pregnant women sleep on their left side? In fact, this has a lot to do with the special period of pregnancy that the pregnant mother is in. Lying on the left side can protect the bodies of the pregnant mother and the fetus.

1. Sleeping on the left side can reduce the pressure of the enlarged uterus on the aorta and iliac artery of pregnant women, maintain normal blood flow in the uterine artery, ensure blood supply to the placenta, and provide the fetus with the nutrients needed for growth and development.

2. Pregnant women sleeping on their left side can reduce the pressure of the pregnant uterus on the inferior vena cava and increase the blood flow returning to the heart. The increase in the amount of blood returning to the heart can increase the blood flow to the kidneys, improve the blood supply to the brain tissue, and help avoid and alleviate the occurrence of pregnancy-induced hypertension.

3. In the late pregnancy, the uterus rotates to the right. Sleeping on the left side can improve the degree of right rotation of the uterus, thereby reducing uterine vascular tension, increasing placental blood flow, improving the oxygen supply to the fetus in the uterus, and promoting fetal growth and development. This is of great significance for reducing the birth of low-birth-weight babies and reducing perinatal mortality. Especially when the fetus is growth-retarded, sleeping on the left side can achieve better treatment results.

Therefore, it is very important for pregnant women to sleep on their left side for good pregnancy and childbirth, as well as the health of mother and baby. If a pregnant woman has lower limb edema or varicose veins in the legs, it is best to raise her legs appropriately while sleeping on her left side to facilitate blood circulation and reduce lower limb edema.