May help the lymphatic system drain more efficiently
Left-side sleeping risks:
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Can cause heart palpitations in some people (the heart shifts closer to the chest wall)
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May worsen symptoms for certain hiatal hernia patients (rare)
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Can cause discomfort for people with enlarged spleen (rare)
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May put pressure on the stomach (if you’ve eaten recently)
For most people, the benefits of left-side sleeping outweigh the risks – especially for those with GERD. But there’s no “perfect” position for everyone.
Special Considerations for Pregnancy
If you’re pregnant, especially in the second or third trimester, sleep position matters significantly.
The concern: The growing uterus can compress the inferior vena cava – the large vein that returns blood from your lower body to your heart. Compression can reduce blood flow to your heart, which can reduce blood flow to the placenta and baby.
The recommendation: Sleep on your left side. This shifts the uterus away from the vena cava and improves circulation. Right-side sleeping is better than back sleeping, but left-side is best.
