As pregnancy progresses, the growing uterus can affect comfort, breathing, and circulation when lying flat.
Healthcare professionals commonly recommend side sleeping later in pregnancy, particularly after around 28 weeks, because going to sleep on the back may be associated with increased risk of certain pregnancy complications.
The left side has traditionally been recommended because of its relationship to major blood vessels and circulation.
However, the key message isn’t that pregnant people must remain exclusively on the left side all night.
If you wake up on your back, don’t panic. Simply
reposition yourself onto your side.
If you’re pregnant and have questions about your individual sleeping position, follow your obstetrician or midwife’s advice.
Does Sleeping on the Left Side Improve Heart Health?
This claim needs some clarification.
Your heart is positioned slightly toward the left side of your chest, so you may assume that lying on the left automatically improves circulation.
But there is not strong evidence that healthy people can significantly improve their long-term heart health simply by choosing the left side at night.
Skip to content 