"Sleeping on Your Side" excerpt excerpt from Full Of Life

It wasn't until I had a pregnancy massage that I learned the cardinal rule. I went to lie on my back when the massage therapist stopped me. No, no, I would need to lie on my side. "But wouldn't I be more comfortable if I were lying on my back? " I asked. And that's when she said, "Honey, when you're pregnant you're not supposed to lie on your back. " What?! Oh my gosh, my baby! Wait, had I been sleeping on my back this whole time? The masseuse explained, "[When you lie on your back, the pressure of your uterus can constrict the vena cava, cutting off oxygen to the baby.] Now, relax and enjoy your massage! " Relax? How on earth did she expect me to relax? All I could do was try and recall the number of times I had woken up on my back. Finally, I came to the conclusion that I'm really a side sleeper anyway, and after the semi-relaxing massage, I went back home and did some research of my own.

Turns out, the reason why the left side is preferred over the right is because it improves circulation to your heart and therefore allows for the best blood flow to the fetus, uterus, and kidneys. [So how do you ensure that you can both sleep comfortably and correctly? Two words: Maternity Pillow!]