Sleeping on your right side?

[kittypower]

I've heard you shouldn't sleep on your right side and only on your left, is this right and if so do you know why?
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It is to do with maximising the blood supply to the placenta and therefore to your baby, but can't remember why it works like this...

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it is better to sleep on the left, but not harmful to sleep on the right!

It's to encourage baby into the LOA position which is optimal for birth.

Wikipedia says: "Left Occiput Anterior, The ideal/easiest position for birth is generally LOA (Left Occiput Anterior), with baby facing the mother?s back, chin tucked under, head looking slightly towards the mother's right side and the baby's spine along the left side of the mother's belly."

In past pregnancies, midwives have told me sleeping on your left side is best, but either side much better than on your back.

It is not harmful to sleep on your right side but the reason the left side is recommended is because it helps relieve pressure on the vena cava, the largest vein returning blood to your heart which is located on the right side of your body. Lying on your right side can put pressure on this vein. Lying on your back for too long may make you feel nauseated because your uterus presses on a large blood vessel called the inferior vena cava, which is another reason for the recommendation to sleep on your left side. Sleeping on your left side allows blood to flow freely although it's certainly not dangerous if you find the right side or even your back more comfortable to sleep on but if you can it's best to try to lie on your left side.