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 Roy Pitkin, M.D., is a professor of obstetrics and
gynecology and is the former chair of the ob/gyn
department at the University of California, Los
Angeles School of Medicine. He is a frequent advisor
to national health agencies on women's health issues and has
received numerous international honors for this work.
Q: I read somewhere that you shouldn't sleep on your back while pregnant because it can harm the baby. Is this true?
A: When you lie on your back during the last half of pregnancy your enlarged uterus can compress two main blood vessels against your spine. The result: decreased blood flow to either you and the baby. Think of it as a garden hose that gets a kink in it.
For these reasons, women should not lie on their backs after their 20th week. You'll probably find that you won't want to lie flat on your back anyway because when blood flow is compromised you can experience symptoms such as difficulty breathing, nausea, and faintness.
The ideal side to lie on while resting is your left since this is where the stronger, thicker aorta vessel lies rather than the vena cava, a thinner vessel which is more likely to be compressed. If lying on your back is the most comfortable position for you, prop yourself up with a few pillows so that you're in a semi-upright position.
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