How To Use Pregnancy Pillow

Introduction To Sleeping While Meaning

We've all heard the myths nigh sleeping while meaning. Even if you're one of the lucky ones who manage to go comfortable enough for some good close-eye, you're woken upward every couple of hours to pee anyway. Studies show that 78% of pregnant women have difficulty sleeping. Between heartburn, nausea, and cramping, this is one of the times the body needs sleep the near — and when it can be hardest.

Sleeping Positions For Pregnant Women

Turns out there are some specific rules when it comes to sleeping for pregnant women. Allow's take a await at some do's and don'ts when it comes to sleeping positions for meaning women.

How Not To Sleep While Pregnant

Sleeping on your tummy is non recommended for obvious reasons. Doctors particularly advise against laying on your stomach in one case your belly pops out and you brainstorm to show. Sleeping on your back is another no-become, as it can lead to your abdomen resting on your intestines and major blood vessels, which can cause trouble breathing, backaches, and low claret pressure, all of which can be bad for your baby.

The Best Way To Sleep While Significant

The American Pregnancy Association (APA) recommends sleeping on your side, specifically your left side. Sleeping on your correct side can put extra pressure on your liver, specially when your body is sacrificing room for your organs to adjust your baby. Sleeping on your left will avoid this issue, and is also improve for circulation, which means more than blood flow for the baby, too.

how to use pregnancy pillow for better sleep — A await at the PharMeDoc Full-Trunk Pregnancy Pillow

Nosotros know you lot might experience restless when you lot accept to sleep on the same side all night, every night. But sleeping on side pregnancy is really the best thing you can do to keep yourself and your infant safe.

Pregnancy (and even postpartum) can lead to increased torso temperature and night sweats through the night, and then be sure to bank check out our list of Best Mattresses for Hot Flashes, Dark Sweats, and Menopause.

What Is A Pregnancy Pillow?

A pregnancy pillow, otherwise known every bit a maternity pillow, is particularly designed to provide support or pressure level relief to the whole body — non just the head and neck. Every bit such, they tend to be larger than your average pillow, and in that location are multiple shapes and sizes in social club to conform a woman'south changing body during the dissimilar stages of her pregnancy.

Unlike Types Of Pregnancy Pillows

U Shaped Pregnancy Pillow

"U" shape. U-shaped pillows are great to utilize to support your whole torso, significant head, cervix, dorsum, belly, knees, and even ankles. It's best for women who are near used to sleeping on their backs at dark, or women who find themselves tossing and turning a lot at dark since you don't need to flip the shape with you or readjust the headrest part.

Considering of this, a U shaped body pillow is a corking option for both finicky sleepers and pregnancy. The U-shaped pillow is typically the most expensive pregnancy pillow yous tin can get because it's and then big. If yous share a full or perchance even a queen size bed with your partner, you lot might want to look at the other options on this listing and so that it doesn't take upwards the whole mattress.

How to sleep with this pillow – To utilise a U shaped pregnancy pillow, you flip it so that the "U" is upside downward. Your feet should remain in between the opening of the pillow while your head should rest on the bottom of the "U."

C Shaped Pregnancy Pillow

C-shaped pillows provide support and comfort for the head, neck, back, and pelvic area. They are awesome for relieving any pelvic tension and reducing water retention in the legs and ankles.

These aren't the all-time pillows for combo sleepers who like to switch positions or toss and plough a lot during the nighttime, because you lot volition need to accommodate the pillow with y'all when you alter sides. The C-shaped pillow is 1 of the best options for plus-sized women because the open up-sided design allows for the pillow to be used in a variety of ways and shapes.

How to sleep with this pillow – Most women use a C-shaped pillow past assuasive the curved function to cradle their dorsum, with the opening of the "C" near their belly.

J Shaped Pregnancy Pillow

This one tin also be referred to every bit a candy cane-shaped pillow. It's smashing for head, neck, and back support. The J-shape is similar to the U-shaped pregnancy pillow in how it's used, but information technology's smaller and missing the extra side. This makes information technology a meliorate selection for smaller beds, or for couples who like to cuddle.

The missing side besides makes this pillow less versatile when it comes to using it while sitting, so if y'all planned on using it for that, you might want to get for the U-shaped body pillow instead.

How to utilise – When it's fourth dimension for bed, in that location are a few ways to gear up your J-shaped pillow. You can determine whether you adopt the long side against your belly or your back or whether yous adopt the curved part to go underneath your caput or between your legs.

Wedge Shaped Pregnancy Pillow

The wedge-shaped pillow allows you to prop your body up while sitting or sleeping, or you tin utilise them nether a pregnant belly. These are dainty for those that become too hot or likewise cold while they sleep because you can place a heating pad or cooling pack betwixt you and the wedge. Sleeping propped up tin can also help those who suffer from heartburn, meaning or not.

How to sleep with it – Wedge-shaped pillows are small and easily portable as well. They're super simple to utilise: just prop ane underneath your belly when sleeping on your side during pregnancy.

Body Pillow Shape

These are basically normal pillows, or U shaped body pillows, but longer. They're great to caress, only don't provide much back or hip back up. Body pillows are the more than pop pillows for those who actually aren't meaning, but like to employ them to sleep more comfortably. They also tend to exist the most inexpensive type of pregnancy pillow.

How to sleep with this pregnancy pillow – You lot can apply a torso pillow nonetheless you'd like, whether you want to hug it as you sleep, arrange it to support your belly, or squeeze it in between your legs.

Keep in mind, these pregnancy pillows aren't solely for pregnant women. If you have back pain or knee problems and have problem getting comfortable at night, you might want to try one of these pregnancy pillows. You can besides employ them while sitting in a chair, sitting in bed, or fifty-fifty in the car during long drives.

Bonus: Don't ditch the pillow one time the baby arrives — they're great for postpartum recovery as well.

Adjustable Base of operations For Pregnancy

If you're spending a lot of fourth dimension in bed during your pregnancy, you might also want to consider buying an adjustable bed base. You can change the pinnacle of the caput and foot of the bed to your preference, and some of these bases even come with extra features that are platonic for expecting moms (for instance, anti-snoring and multiple dissimilar massage modes).

Tips for Meliorate Sleep During Pregnancy

A great pregnancy pillow is the beginning step to more comfy sleep, but there are other things you can practice to catch Zs earlier babe arrives:

Do during the solar day to reduce nighttime cramping, if deemed condom past an expert
Cut back on fluids a few hours earlier bed to avoid waking upward to utilize the bathroom
Snack on banal and filling foods like rice and avoid spicy ones to reduce the likelihood of dark nausea and heartburn
Ease yourself into slumber by doing something comforting before bed, like having a warm shower or stretching
Where possible, take brusk naps during the day to make up for sleep you're losing at night
Avoid screen time earlier bed and consider reading a book or meditating instead (Meet more Self-Intendance Tips Earlier Bedtime)
Talk to your healthcare provider before opting for a supplement or medication during pregnancy

How Pregnancy Can Affect Sleep

Increases Stress

During pregnancy, you'll find yourself worrying about the many unknowns that come up along with your new inflow. Whether you're anxious about delivering your infant, bringing him or her dwelling, or adjusting to life as a parent, these stressful thoughts can disrupt your sleep.

Hormones

Pregnancy causes your torso to produce increased levels of hormones, some of which tin can take adverse effects on your sleeping patterns. While some hormones can cause you lot to feel sleepy during the day, others can crusade you to use the bathroom oftentimes and interrupt your slumber.

Heartburn

Many expecting moms feel heartburn at some point in their pregnancy. When it happens at night, it tin proceed you upward and crusade a great bargain of discomfort as you prevarication in bed.

Physical Uncomfort

As your new babe continues to grow and takes up more space in your belly, you'll find it harder to get comfortable — both at night and during the day. This blazon of discomfort can interrupt your slumber, but using a body pillow for pregnancy is a smart way to go comfy and get some residuum.