Final answer:
Turning a pregnant client to her left side is primarily recommended to promote increased blood flow to the uterus. This position can also help reduce back pain, heartburn, and frequent urination, common discomforts in pregnancy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Turning a pregnant client to the left side promotes increased blood flow to the uterus. This position helps alleviate pressure on the inferior vena cava, which is a large vein that returns blood from the lower body to the heart. By shifting the weight of the uterus, blood flow is improved, which in turn provides more oxygen and nutrients to both the mother and the fetus.
Additional benefits for pregnant individuals from this position include potential reduction in back pain due to less strain on the back and improved circulation that may help to minimize swelling in the extremities, which is a common pregnancy discomfort.
Situations such as heartburn and frequent urination are also common in later stages of pregnancy due to the growing uterus putting pressure on the stomach and bladder. The left lateral position can help alleviate these discomforts to a certain extent by changing the angle at which the uterus sits, slightly reducing the pressure.