Shelton RossPregnancy can be considered a wonderful experience which gives a woman a lot of thrills and also requires a lot of mental preparation. However, this stage is not complete without its challenges and the biggest of them for most mothers is sleeping well. Once the body starts to change and adapt to the needs of the baby, it often becomes hard to find a suitable position for sleeping. Such circumstances are when a pregnancy pillow is very important. These are pillow like structures which are used by pregnant women in their quests for improvement of their sleeping patterns. In this guide, we will learn all that there is to learn about using a pregnancy pillow, noticed specifically its benefits, its types, how to use it, and where to buy it.
Why Is Sleep Important During Pregnancy?
Before going straight to the point of referencing the pregnancy pillow and explaining how to use it, there is something critical that needs to be addressed. Leverage over the necessity of sleep during the pregnancy period is necessary. Sleep is an essential factor that in one aspect explains the health status of both the mother and adding the health status of the pregnant woman. A properly rested mother will have boosted body immunity and mental stability as well as sufficient body strength to handle the day to day activities that she engages in. In respect to the fetus, sufficient sleeping for the mother helps in speedy growth of healthy fetus as blood and nutrition are precisely discharged when body rests.
Nonetheless, as the pregnancy terms go by, many women start struggling with the issue of sleeping at night. Backache, pain in the hips, difficulty in breathing, and wanting to go to the bathroom often become day to day occurrences. This is where a pregnancy pillow can be helpful.
What is a Pregnant Body Pillow?
A pregnancy pillow is a pillow that is made to support the body especially the tummy, lower back, and hips when one is expectant. These pillows help in molding the body of the expectant woman by eliminating any undue pressure on certain areas and providing support on pressure points. Whereas some are airway shaped, some are U-shaped and others haven’t been shaped for many purposes, mainly for sleeping.
Benefits of Using a Pregnancy Pillow
Though pregnancy pillows are helpful, why should we not try normal pillows? Here are some of the factors.
Decreases pressure on a joint
Baby’s growth is accompanied by more and more pressure on the hip area, the knees and the ankles. A pregnancy pillow also pressured on the weight-bearing surfaces of the shoulder and lower limbs, it likely prevented heavy weight loads.
Provides Support to the tummy
As the bump progresses, the pregnancy pillow provides support thereby lessening the pull of the abdominal muscles and the pressure in the lower back. This is particularly useful when it comes to round ligament pain in women.
Relieves Back Pains
Most of the women who are expectant complain back pains secondary to the additional weight and changes in the center of gravity. With the use of a pregnancy pillow full in shape, the spine gets adequate support meanwhile controlling the pressure on the lower back.
Helps in Better Blood Flow
While or sleeping, the left side is the best supportive side and is the best used when pregnant. The pregnancy pillow makes it easier for a mother to stay in this position by protecting her from rolling over to her back or right side during sleeping.
Reduces Suffering from heartburn
Developing heartburn is common for a good number of women that are pregnant primarily during and after pregnancy. Adjusting with the help of a pregnancy pillow in such a way that the upper torso is raised or propped up reduces the chances of acid reflux as well as soreness during sleep.
Aids in Enhancing Sleep Quality
Generally, a pregnancy pillow tends to ‘fix the problems’ adding support and reducing discomfort therefore level of sleeping is elevated very necessary sleep for those pregnant.
Pregnancy Pillows for Women during the Course of Her Pregnancy
Pregnancy pillows are designed in very different forms and sizes and each has its own advantages. As a person looking for the best medical means of relieving back pains while pregnant, it will be a good idea to know these varieties.
U Shaped Pregnancy Pillows
The U shaped pillow for pregnancy is as common as the other alternatives available. It encircles the whole body supporting head, neck, back and belly at the same time. It is suitable for women who tend to switch sides when sleeping because it is usable irrespective of the side on which the user lies.
Pros:
It supports the whole body
Eliminates both belly and back pains
Ensures that one sleeps in a correct position, which is on their side.
Cons:
occupies a big space on the bed
Some may be more costly than the other types available.
C Shaped Pregnancy Pillows
The c shaped pregnancy pillow provides a cradle like support to the head, belly and back, with less effort of the focus being a belly mount only. This pillow is very useful especially for women who have low back or hip pains because it encourages better posture of the spine.
Pros:
Provides proper support to pressure points of the body
Excellent for relieving pain and discomfort on the lower back
Good for all sleep positions
Cons:
Does not offer proper support to the legs and the knee
Can be adjusted during the night which can be a little annoying for some people
Wedge-Shaped Pillow
A wedge pillow is a smaller, more compact version that targets a certain area without the need of being a full size body pillow. Which is usually placed underneath the belly or in between the knees for extra comfort. This type of a pillow is recommended to ladies who would rather have a less cumbersome option.
Pros:
Portable
Cheap in comparison to the bigger ones
Provides support to a focused area
Cons:
Does not have the whole body support
Cannot be used for acute painbehaviors
J–Shaped Pillow
J-shaped pillows are similar in nature to U-shaped pillows however they occupy lesser space. It provides support to the head, neck, back and belly but may require an extra pillow for the legs. With this type of a pillow women will benefit from all the advantages of the full body pillow without the hassle of its size.
Benefits:
Provides help with back and belly.
Is smaller in size as compared to a U shaped pillow.
Suitable for smaller bed.
Drawbacks:
Does not afford complete support to the legs.
May not be suitable for caregivers with the patients for all sleeping positions.
Wedge Full Body Pregnancy Pillow
A full length pregnancy pillow is a simple long thin rectangular body pillow. This is the type of pillow which supports the whole body from the head right down to the toe. This pillow can be used in a wrapping motion on the body, or placed on the side to give mid support. This type of pillow is good for women that super don’t require so much back support, yet want some belly and leg soft cushioning.
Pros:
Easy to carry around
Offers full body support
Great for people who sleep on the side
Cons:
Doesn’t give enough support to the back
Adjustments may be required in the course of the night.
Correct Becoming a Smart User of a Pregnancy Pillow
Understanding how a pregnancy pillow is placed with respect to the user is crucial as far as its usage is concerned. Here are some guidelines when using various forms of pregnancy pillows:
For Comfort Using Back Support
In U-shaped or C-shaped pillows, keep one side of the pillow against your back and the other side against your belly. This will help in keeping the normal curve of the spine and avoiding strains on the spine. For wedge shaped pillows, the pillow may be placed on the back of the user to prevent the user from sleeping on the back.
For Lump Restrictions Using Pregnant Pillow
To reduce pressure on the muscles of the abdominal wall, the pregnancy body pillow should be fixed under the bump. When using a wedge, it should be placed beneath the baby bump for softness. A long or complete pole cocoon, cross the gap between you and the mound.
For Hip and Knee Support
Use the pregnancy pillow in between your knees to avoid hip pain and maintain the alignment of your spine. This will ease the pressure off the hips as your weight will be well proportioned. In case you want to use a full length pillow its possible to clasp it and shove it in between your legs in order to fully support the body.
For Relief of Heartburn
In case you deal with or suffer from heartburn, position your upper body using a wedge pillow. This reduces the likelihood of acid reflux therefore enabling better and more comfortable breathing especially at the latter stages of pregnancy.
How to Choose the Correct Pregnancy Pillow
When choosing a pregnancy pillow, please take into consideration the factors below:
Sleeping Position
How you sleep should come into factors, pay attention especially when laying on different sleeping positions. For example if you fall under the category of those sleeping on the sides a U-shaped or full-length pillow will do the trick. On the contrary, if you are in need of a twisted support like in between your sides and back, a wedge will serve you best.
Size of the Pillow
In a case where there is a limited bed especially when lying on a relatively small or shared bed, a full body type of a pillow such as the U shape pillow or the C shape pillow would be too. There are other options which include a wedge type or smaller one which may be useful.
Material
The materials of the prenatal pillows include memory foam, polyester, among other types. It is ideal to select a material depending on its comfort and support properties. Some materials may other materials be more thermal and hence enhance cooler sleep.
Budget
With all of these pregnancy pillows available in the market, it is essential to set your budget. There are special design features that may enhance the support of the pillow, but for some women, a simple wedge pillow may suffice for the price.
Conclusion
A pregnancy pillow will be, in most cases, a breakthrough solution for every woman as sleepless nights during her term can be hard for her. These pillows have been designed to relieve pain, support the body, and assist in getting a better night’s sleep. It does not matter what form of the pillow that you decide upon, whether it is the U-shaped, C-shaped, or full length as knowing how to use the pillow will work. Purchasing a good pregnancy pillow will guarantee better sleep and help a woman cope well with her pregnancy
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