Sleeping on your side—particularly your left side—is one of the best things you can do for your baby. Lying on your left side allows the uterus to shift slightly away from the aorta and inferior vena cava, your two major blood vessels. When you're in this position, your baby receives maximum amounts of blood, which is an unborn baby's main source of nutrients.

Lying on your left side can also reduce the odds of experiencing two common pregnancy-related discomforts: varicose veins and swollen ankles and legs. Before you go to bed, take a warm shower or bath. In bed, place one pillow under your tummy and another between your legs. Then practice this progressive muscle relaxation exercise: let your mind drift into as passive a state as possible. Tense your toes as much as you can, then allow them to relax. Now tense your leg muscles, and then relax. And so on, moving from toes to head, until you feel completely relaxed.