Is it better for pregnant women to sleep on the left side or the right side? Sleeping on the left side is the most comfortable

Many pregnant women often don't know which sleeping position is good for the fetus. So, is it better for pregnant women to sleep on the left side or the right side?

Is it better for pregnant women to sleep on their left side or right side?

It is better for pregnant women to sleep on their left side! According to research, pregnant women who sleep on their backs with their bodies leaning on the right side have twice the risk of stillbirth compared to those who sleep on the left side. Sleeping on the right side also puts more pressure on the liver. The benefits of sleeping on the left side for pregnant women are as follows:

1. Provide nutrients to the fetus

It can reduce the pressure of the enlarged pregnant uterus on the pregnant mother's aorta and iliac artery, so as to 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.

In the late pregnancy, the uterus rotates to the right. Lying 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.

2. Reduce the incidence of various syndromes during pregnancy

Sleeping on the left side during pregnancy can reduce the incidence of various syndromes during pregnancy, such as pregnancy-induced hypertension, abbreviated as PIH, which is a syndrome with a series of symptoms such as high blood pressure, edema, proteinuria, etc. after 5 months of pregnancy. In severe cases, convulsions, coma and even death may occur. It is medically called "eclampsia", which seriously threatens the life safety of mother and fetus.

Pregnant women should not sleep on their backs

After the first trimester, you may find it difficult to sleep with pressure on your stomach. Not only is it uncomfortable, it can also be a sign of physical development problems. As of July 2011, there are no scientific studies that prove that sleeping on your back while pregnant is dangerous. If you sleep on your back, you put extra pressure on the baby in the womb that can harm it. In severe cases, this can cause developmental problems or even miscarriage.

Is there any particular sleeping position for pregnant women?

There are three general sleeping positions: supine, sideways, and prone. For ordinary people, as long as they sleep comfortably, it doesn't matter which sleeping position they are in. However, for pregnant women, an incorrect sleeping position may affect the development of the fetus.

1. Supine. After pregnancy, if you sleep in a supine position, the enlarged uterus will compress the inferior vena cava, affecting blood circulation, causing edema or varicose veins in the lower limbs and vulva. It will also reduce the amount of blood returning to the heart from the lower limbs, causing ischemia and hypoxia in the brain. Therefore, pregnant women should never lie on their backs.

2. Prone position: Few people adopt this sleeping position. For pregnant women with big bellies, this sleeping position is neither realistic nor possible.

3. Lying on the right side. If you lie on your right side for a long time during pregnancy, the uterus will rotate to the right to varying degrees. This will put the ligaments and mesentery that maintain the normal position of the uterus in a tense state. The blood vessels in the mesentery will be stretched, affecting the blood supply to the fetus, causing chronic hypoxia of the fetus, and in severe cases, it will cause fetal suffocation and death.

4. Lying on the left side. Lying on the left side is the best sleeping position in the late pregnancy. This sleeping position can turn the right-rotated uterus to an upright position, thereby reducing the fetal position and delivery abnormalities caused by it. It can also avoid the uterus from compressing the veins of the inferior cavity, increase the amount of cardiac blood discharged by pregnant women, reduce edema, improve the blood perfusion of the uterus and placenta, help reduce premature birth, avoid the uterus from compressing the kidneys, and thus benefit the growth and development of the fetus and eugenics.

The impact of bad sleeping posture on pregnant women

The sleeping posture of pregnant women is related to the health of both the mother and the fetus. It is an important part of pregnancy that cannot be ignored. Any slight mistake may cause serious consequences.

1. For pregnant women

Bad sleeping posture can cause the abdomen of pregnant women to feel compressed, affecting blood circulation and oxygen supply throughout the body, causing low blood pressure. At this time, pregnant women can obviously feel dizziness, palpitations, nausea, weakness in the limbs and other symptoms. This not only reduces the quality of sleep for pregnant women, but also harms their health. In addition, edema or varicose veins in the lower limbs and vulva of pregnant women may also be caused by bad sleeping posture.

2. For the fetus

A mother’s bad sleeping posture will affect the blood and oxygen supply to the fetus, easily causing chronic hypoxia of the fetus, which is not conducive to its growth and development, and is prone to premature birth. In severe cases, it can cause fetal suffocation or death.

The fetus and the expectant mother are connected by the umbilical cord. The two are actually one. If the expectant mother has problems, the fetus will be affected to some extent, and the fetus's problems will also have a reaction on the mother. Therefore, expectant mothers do not need to worry too much when sleeping, because the fetus will tell the mother in a unique way that it is not feeling well.

What to do if pregnant women have trouble sleeping

If a pregnant woman cannot sleep for several days, she may try the following methods to improve the situation.

Preparation before bed

1. Add pillows

Properly increasing the height of the pillow can help improve sleep. You can also use pillows to support your abdomen and back. Putting a pillow between your legs can support your sinking back and help you fall asleep.

2. Take a comfortable bath

Taking a comfortable bath before going to bed can relax the whole body and have a certain hypnotic effect. In winter, you must keep your feet warm. You can soak your feet to improve it. You can also ask your family to help with hot compresses and massage to prevent cramps.

3. Do not exercise within 3-4 hours before going to bed.

Exercising before going to bed can make people excited, which is not conducive to sleep. Pregnant women can do some simple exercises during the day, such as stretching, yoga, massage and deep breathing, which is conducive to sleep at night.

4. Relax

Keeping a happy and relaxed mood during pregnancy can play a positive role in the development of the fetus. If you really can't sleep, you can read a newspaper or a book, and don't force yourself to sleep, which will make you nervous. You can also listen to soothing music, which can help with prenatal education and make you calm and fall asleep peacefully.

5. Sleep less during the day

After a woman becomes pregnant, she becomes tired and less active, so some pregnant mothers spend most of the day sleeping. Sleeping too much during the day can easily lead to insomnia at night, so pregnant mothers should find something else to do during the day to relieve their sleepiness and try to sleep less during the day.