In the third trimester, which position is recommended to improve venous return and reduce hypotension?

Study for the Sacramento State Medic Module 6 Test. Engage with flashcards and multiple-choice questions with detailed explanations. Prepare thoroughly for your assessment!

Multiple Choice

In the third trimester, which position is recommended to improve venous return and reduce hypotension?

Late in pregnancy, the enlarged uterus can press on the inferior vena cava when a woman lies on her back, reducing venous return to the heart and risking hypotension. Lying on the left side relieves this compression, improves venous return, increases preload and cardiac output, and helps stabilize blood pressure and placental perfusion. The other positions don’t provide that relief: lying supine keeps the IVC compressed; standing lowers venous return due to gravity; and the prone position presses on the abdomen and isn’t practical.

In the third trimester, which position is recommended to improve venous return and reduce hypotension?

Study for the Sacramento State Medic Module 6 Test. Engage with flashcards and multiple-choice questions with detailed explanations. Prepare thoroughly for your assessment!

In the third trimester, which position is recommended to improve venous return and reduce hypotension?

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