Why the Vagus Nerve Matters in Pregnancy — and How to Support It

Sleeping on left side when pregnant to support vagus nerve

Most of us think of pregnancy in terms of hormones, scans and growing bellies — but there’s another biological system quietly shaping how your body adapts, responds to stress, and even how you feel emotionally: the vagus nerve.

What Is the Vagus Nerve?

The vagus nerve — also called cranial nerve X — is the longest and one of the most important parts of the parasympathetic nervous system. It acts as a major communication highway between your brain and your organs, including the heart, lungs, and digestive system. It helps regulate involuntary functions such as heart rate, breathing, digestion, inflammation, and immune responses.

In the context of pregnancy, this means it can influence everything from your emotional resilience to how well your body manages inflammation and nutrient absorption.

The Vagus Nerve in Pregnancy: Why It Matters

During pregnancy, your body undergoes profound physiological change — from immune modulation to metabolic adaptation — and the vagus nerve plays a big role in helping your system respond appropriately. It’s part of a wider communication network known as the gut–brain axis, which links your gut, brain and nervous system.

The vagus nerve contributes to:

• Digestive regulation: It helps coordinate gut motility and nutrient absorption — key when your body’s energy demands are increased.

• Inflammation control: Through the cholinergic anti‑inflammatory pathway, vagal activity can help keep systemic inflammation in check. This is especially relevant in pregnancy when immune balance is critical.

• Emotional regulation: Because the vagus nerve influences the communication between the gut microbiome and the brain, it’s central to mood, anxiety, stress responses and emotional resilience.

• Autonomic regulation: A well‑functioning vagus nerve promotes parasympathetic, “rest‑and‑digest” responses — helping support sleep, calm and recovery.

In short, when your vagal tone (the baseline activity of the vagus nerve) is healthy, your body is better able to adapt to the complex physical and emotional demands of pregnancy and postpartum.

Science & Pregnancy: What Research Tells Us

Research shows that the gut microbiota — closely linked to the vagus nerve — plays a crucial role in maternal and fetal development. Changes in the maternal microbiome during pregnancy may influence fetal nervous system development and the maturation of the gut–brain axis in early life.

Studies also highlight that higher vagal tone is associated with:

• Lower systemic inflammation

• Better emotional regulation and resilience

• Improved digestive function

• Balanced immune responses

These systems are all under greater demand during pregnancy and postpartum, making the vagus nerve a key player in maternal wellbeing.

How to Support Your Vagus Nerve in Pregnancy

Supporting vagal function isn’t about “fixing” one thing — it’s about whole‑body wellbeing. Here are evidence‑informed ways to do that:

1. Slow, deep breathing
Gentle diaphragmatic breathing stimulates the vagus nerve, helping shift your nervous system into parasympathetic, restorative mode.

2. Mindful movement
Safe movement practices like prenatal yoga or walking support autonomic balance and digestion.

3. Nutrition & microbiome support
A diverse diet rich in prebiotic and probiotic foods helps feed your gut microbiome, which in turn supports vagal communication along the gut–brain axis.

4. Rest & sleep hygiene
Sleep and nervous system regulation are inseparable — prioritising rest helps vagal tone and reduces stress responses.

5. Therapeutic support
Holistic therapies such as reflexology, massage, and manual lymphatic drainage can indirectly improve vagal regulation by reducing stress and supporting parasympathetic activation.

6. Sleep on your left side
Sleeping on your left side is often recommended in pregnancy—not just to support blood flow, but also because it may gently benefit vagus nerve stimulation. The vagus nerve branches to the left side of the body, and left-sided sleeping can reduce pressure on major blood vessels, improving circulation to the uterus and enhancing vagal tone. It’s a small shift that can help your nervous system—and your baby—rest more comfortably.

Putting It Into Practice for Pregnancy & Beyond

Understanding the vagus nerve gives us a more complete picture of maternal wellbeing — one that goes beyond symptoms to mechanisms. When we support this system, we give your body a biological advantage in adapting to pregnancy, managing stress, and recovering postpartum.

At Bubba & Me and in partnership with The Pregnancy Clinic, we integrate this science into our holistic support approach — from antenatal education to therapeutic care — helping you engage with your body’s own communication systems in informed, practical ways.

Ready to support your nervous system and gut‑brain vitality during this transformative time?
Discover more in our clinic services or book an appointment today.