Which position should a pregnant patient be in when carrying out CPR?

• A. Patient laid slightly to the left
• B. Supine
• C. Right side
• D. Upright

Answer: (A)

The main idea is to prevent the pregnant uterus from compressing major vessels during CPR. When a patient is late in pregnancy, lying flat can press the uterus against the inferior vena cava, reducing venous return to the heart and making chest compressions less effective. Tilting the patient slightly to the left relieves that aortocaval compression, improves venous return, and helps chest compressions work better. This left tilt is typically about 15–30 degrees and is achieved by placing a firm support under the right hip. If a full tilt isn’t possible, manual displacement of the uterus to the left can be done while continuing compressions. So, the best position is a slight left-side tilt.