Pregnancy Pillows: The Best Features and Benefits
Pregnancy is a beautiful experience, but it can also be uncomfortable. Many pregnant women suffer from sleepless nights, aches, pains, and other ailments during their pregnancies that can make them feel tired and frustrated. Luckily, there are lots of great products to help pregnant women find comfort during these uncomfortable times. For sleepless nights, specialty pregnancy pillows can help women find comfortable sleeping positions. However, not all pregnancy pillows are made the same, so there are some features to consider when choosing one to buy.
What Is the Best Way to Sleep While Pregnant?
The American Pregnancy Association recommends sleeping on your left side during your pregnancy. Doing so puts less stress on your liver. Sleeping on your left side during your pregnancy can also increase blood flow throughout your whole body. Allowing increased blood flow and less pressure on your organs is not only healthy for you, but also for your baby.
It can be difficult to find a comfortable position to sleep in during pregnancy, but pregnancy pillows are made to help you find a healthy, comfortable, and restful position for optimal sleeping.
What Is the Purpose Behind Buying Special Pregnancy Pillows?
As new parents, you and your partner will have enough sleepless nights when you begin caring for your new baby. Before the baby is born, you want to make sure you’re getting plenty of quality sleep. Pregnancy takes a toll on your body, and one of the major ways it can affect you is through a loss of quality sleep time. When we aren’t sleeping well, our bodies take notice in many ways. Pregnancy pillows can help regain some normalcy by offering support while you’re sleeping.
Even if you aren’t pregnant, buying a pregnancy pillow could still benefit you. Many people suffer from sleeping-related issues and use pregnancy pillows to alleviate them. People with aches and pains that regular pillows don’t help often turn to pregnancy pillows for additional support for sore backs, hips, and legs. Many people who use pregnancy pillows often enjoy using them even after their pregnancy ends because they discover how beneficial it is to be fully supported throughout the whole body during sleep.
What Are Some Different Pregnancy Pillow Shapes?
Pregnancy pillows differ widely by shape. These different shapes exist to relieve different symptoms and ailments experienced during pregnancy. Depending on your unique experience, you will want to select a pillow made to relieve your types of discomfort.
For example, some are made the same size as a regular bed pillow, but wedge-shaped for sleeping upright to fight heartburn during sleep. Because you are sleeping upward on the wedge shape at an angle, heartburn is calmed.
Another popular pregnancy pillow choice is the full-body pillow. Unlike regular long body pillows, these are designed to fold over and “envelop” the person’s body, offering support to the head and both sides of the body.
Other body pillows run parallel to your body. These are designed to hug or lean on during sleep to provide support. Often, these kinds of body pillows are made with a slight curve—this allows support for your head as well as support between your knees while allowing room for your growing body.
What Type of Material Should I Choose for My Pregnancy Pillow?
Ideally, you should select a pregnancy pillow that includes a removable, washable cover. Symptoms of pregnancy can often leave women feeling uncomfortably hot and sweaty in their sleep, and a removable cover can be easily washed.
Certain materials can provide extra comfort. For example, for a cooler sensation during sleep, you may want to select a silky cover or a cotton cover. Silk materials keep a cool feeling during the night, and cotton is a breathable fabric that will allow your skin to stay cool.
How Do I Choose the Right Firmness for My Pregnancy Pillow?
Everyone has a pillow softness or firmness preference, but pregnancy pillows serve a more specific purpose than regular bed pillows.
It may be tempting to choose a soft, downy pillow, but firmness is the best choice for a pregnancy pillow. Pregnancy pillows exist to provide pregnant bodies with extra support. As your body changes and grows, having additional support during sleep will help you sleep more comfortably through the night.
Resources— My Slumber Yard, Today's Parent
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