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Pregnancy

Why lie on left?

9 replies

WowOoo · 18/03/2009 09:14

Does anyone know why I can feel baby more if I lie on my left side (20 wks now)?

Also, sure I can remember reading or someone saying it's good to lie on left side. Does anybody know why? Please tell me if I imagined it!

thanks

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lljkk · 18/03/2009 09:17

I think it improves blood supply (very marginally) to the uterus, and it encourages the baby to lie in a way that is the best position for exit.

However, if it's not comfortable, don't worry about it.

My heartburn was a lot less when I lay on my left side.

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rempy · 18/03/2009 09:17

Not imagined. Its to do with the anatomical arrangement of the venous and arterial supply to the lower limbs. The big vessels are sort of side by side. The uterus falls away more from the veins when you lie on the left so venous return to the heart, hence blood supply to the baby is better.

No idea why you can feel baby better. Presumably just the position your LO is in at the moment.

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hobbgoblin · 18/03/2009 09:26

I was pondering this exact same question last night around 1am!

My baby was going nuts when I lay on my left and I could really feel him. I had to move ,but he was up for the night then so didn't stop wriggling no matter how I lay!

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GYoIsReallyHavingABaby · 18/03/2009 09:27

what rempy said.

you may find as you get bigger you cant lie on your right or back as it makes you feel faint for that exact reason. I nearly blacked out a couple of times on the osteopath and scan table!

Heartburn definately better on left side due to position of stomach.

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GYoIsReallyHavingABaby · 18/03/2009 09:28

Also, its good to lie/ sleep on left (vs right) towards the end to help get the baby in right position for birth.

I had no idea about this but they talked a lot about it in my NCT and NHS Antenatal classes.

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olivo · 18/03/2009 09:41

i heard they move more when you lie on the left because they get more oxygen because the blood flow is better.

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WowOoo · 18/03/2009 10:11

Interesting. Thanks all.
It makes sense of course as recovery position is on the left too. Now I know.

(But I had to use a dictionary Rempy)

Was having a reality attack last night feeling uncomfortable and remembering how much worse my quality of sleep will get the further on I go. Happy tiredness is OK ish though..... For now...eeek!

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rempy · 18/03/2009 10:14

Sorry... normally make more of an effort to type in real english..

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WowOoo · 18/03/2009 10:16

NO no no Rempy. Twas real English. I like proper terms and understand thanks to you and my lovely dictionary!