Pregnancy can affect how you sleep, and make sleeping in your usual position or any position feel impossible. Before you know it, your growing belly, aching hips and tired back have teamed up to make even a full night’s sleep seem like not enough. Getting the answer to when and why use a pregnancy pillow could help you to have a more comfortable pregnancy. Pillows during pregnancy can help you support your back, hips and bump as you sleep.
This article explores pregnancy pillow benefits including body support, blood circulation enhancement, and comfort. There are also tips to help you avoid rolling on to your back or stomach when you sleep and how to use the pregnancy pillow after you deliver the baby.
Addressing the Unique Challenges of Sleeping for Two
It is tough to sleep while pregnant and if you share a bed with your partner, sleeping can become even harder. Pillows during pregnancy enable you to sleep in comfortable positions whilst helping to relieve body aches. Knowing the reasons why use a pregnancy pillow can help make you comfortable all night.
You might feel cramped if you share a bed with your partner and movement at night could wake up both of you. Small pregnancy pillows can provide all the necessary support to your body, and at the same time, they do not occupy a lot of space. They may help you and your partner sleep better together.
Providing Targeted Support for the Growing Baby Bump
One of the best ways to help stay comfortable during sleep is by supporting your bump. While pregnant, your center of gravity and weight distribution will shift which may cause some pressure to your hips, back and pelvis. Understanding the how and why use a pregnancy pillow can aid in keeping a supported and comfy sleeping posture. Some benefits of the pregnancy pillow may include:
- Eases spinal strain: Putting a pillow under the belly slightly lifts the bump and stops it from weighing down the back too much.
- Relieves pressure on the pelvis: Propping up your side with a pillow shifts the uterus weight distribution more evenly thus alleviating hip and pelvic pressure. Using some pillows during pregnancy can relieve body strain.
- Promotes safe side sleeping: A cushioned bump helps make sleeping on your left side more comfortable, which increases blood flow to you and your baby.
- Stops you from tossing and turning: You won’t be shifting positions all night if you use a proper bump support.
- Supports all sleeping positions: Wedges, c-shaped, u-shaped and full-length pillows provide the right kind of support for your body.
Relieving Pressure on the Hips and Lower Back
Some degree of hip and lower-back pain during pregnancy is very common and it can interfere with your sleep. If you’re asking yourself why use a pregnancy pillow, it helps maintain alignment of your hips and keep your spine in a neutral position as you sleep. Using pillows during pregnancy can relieve muscle strain and support your body all night long.
Putting a pillow between your knees or ankles prevents the top leg from twisting your pelvis. Support under the lower back and/or hips also helps make side sleeping much more relaxing. These little tweaks can ease pain and help you get better sleep.
Improving Spinal Alignment for a More Restful Night
Many moms-to-be become curious why use a pregnancy pillow and how it can help if back pain starts to affect their sleep. Pregnancy may cause you to experience a tight, tired back often at night. Pillows during pregnancy can keep your head, shoulders and hips in line as you sleep.
Good sleep posture can help reduce tightness in the back and hips. Support between the knees and under the belly helps maintain the body’s balance while lying down. Enhanced alignment during rest can promote an even deeper sleep.
Enhancing Blood Circulation for Both Parent and Baby
Sufficient blood flow is necessary during pregnancy to provide the baby with oxygen and nutrients. That’s one of the reasons why use a pregnancy pillow. Pillows during pregnancy offer you gentle support to keep you on your side and allow good circulation all night.
Left side sleeping can enhance blood flow. Putting a pillow under your belly and/or between your legs can really help make you more comfortable. Good blood flow in your body during sleep will benefit not only your body but also your baby.
Preventing Unintentional Rolling Onto Your Back or Stomach
Side sleeping is the recommended sleep position during pregnancy. What you may not realize is that you can unintentionally roll on your back or stomach in your sleep. One more reason why use a pregnancy pillow is to help stop you from rolling over onto your back or baby bump. Here are five ways to prevent you from resting on your back or belly:
- Make a backstop: Put a firm pillow under your lower back so you don’t roll all the way onto your back while you sleep.
- Use a full body pillow: A u-shaped or c-shaped pillow can fit your whole body and give you a gentle support on both flanks.
- Support the growing belly: A tiny wedge pillow put under the bump will not only make rolling onto the tummy uncomfortable but also discourage the stomach sleeping position.
- Add support between the legs: Proper spacing between the knees helps keep your hips stable and makes side-sleeping easier to maintain. Support like pillows during pregnancy often helps the body stay in place through the night.
- Reposition if needed: If you happen to wake up on your back or stomach, just roll over to your side and get back to sleep with your pillow supports.
Reducing Common Discomforts Like Heartburn and Leg Cramps
When heartburn or leg cramps interrupt sleep, you can appreciate the reason why use a pregnancy pillow. Heartburn and cramps in the legs can indeed make nights uncomfortable when you’re pregnant. Full body support with pillows during pregnancy can relieve pressure and allow you to keep your body in a more comfortable position.
Slight elevation of the upper body may keep stomach acid down at night. Supporting your legs also helps with circulation and relieves cramping. Good sleeping positions can result in more peaceful and restful nights.
Finding Versatile Comfort That Lasts Beyond the Pregnancy
A pregnancy pillow can still be useful after you have given birth. Because your body is healing, and needs support after delivery, you’ll understand why use a pregnancy pillow. The benefits that you can get from pillows during pregnancy can continue to help your body rest and recover.
Feeding time and quiet time bonding moments can be comfortable, too, with a good pregnancy pillow. A fluffy cushion can help relax your arms, shoulders and back. Regular routine moments with your baby can get a little easier with the versatile comfort of pillows.
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