Why is it recommended for pregnant women to sleep on their left side?

Let’s start with the anatomy first – the inferior vena cava (pictured in blue) is the largest vein in the body and carries deoxygenated blood from the abdomen and lower extremities back to the heart. 

This vein travels just to the right of the spine in the abdomen with the abdominal aorta (pictured in red).

As the uterus and fetus grow within the abdominal cavity, there can be added pressure on the inferior vena cava when laying on your back due to the close proximity of the vein to the spine. Because the inferior vena cava lies to the right of the spine, when you lay on your left side, it decreases the pressure put on this vein and allows more deoxygenated blood to return to the heart and lungs to become oxygenated. 

If this vein has too much pressure placed on it, symptoms you might experience include dizziness, nausea, potential vomiting, racing heart, pallor, sweating, lightheadedness. 

If this is something you experience, it is best to get upright and off of your back, preferably in a supported position if dizziness and lightheadedness are symptoms you are experiencing. 

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