Sleep Positions During Pregnancy with a Pillow

 

 

 

FTC Disclosure: This post is brought to you by SleepAdvisor.org. 

 

There’s no getting around it – when it comes to sleeping while you’re pregnant, you are more than likely to find yourself tossing and turning at all times of night as you attempt to hone in on that comfy position before you drift off. However, those all-so snuggly, regular sleeping positions you could nestle into and fall asleep instantly with could be completely useless now that you’re with child.
What Are the Reasons for This?

In all honesty, there are several different explanations that can be offered that might explain why you’re experiencing this irregular discomfort. Don’t despair though, because thanks to many, many, women going through pregnancy before, added with science, and good old trial and error, there are a host of sleeping positions you can try out that could transport you into the land of nod in no time!
Reasons Why Your Normal Sleeping Positions Don’t Work for You

Pregnancy does a great job at bringing with it a lovely basketful of changes for you to deal with. It’s this hamper of temporary transformations that are usually at the root of the unsettling of your customary sleep.
Some of the more common reasons for you to go through discomfort come in the form of; heartburn, back pain, insomnia, enlarged size of abdomen and shortness of breath.
So, now you know what the reasons are, which no doubt, you can relate to, how about we delve into the positions that might rock your world and find you in slumber before you know it?
Sending Out an SOS

The most successful, tired and tested position for pregnant women to sleep is to sleep on your side; affectionately and rather appropriately referred to as “SOS”. You can take this to the next level of comfort – which will pretty much assure you a better sleep – by positioning yourself on your left-hand side. By lying on your left-hand side, this gives you a rise in the volume of not only blood but essential nutrients that reach both the placenta and that special member of your family you’re yet to meet too. You can help get the SOS mastered with more information from the – Sleep Advisor.
Positions with Pillows

Of course, one of the best things you can do to aid a good night’s sleep is to add in a pillow. Pillows are ordinarily used to give support to the head during sleep – but they’re truly wonderful at adding much-needed support when placed between your legs. Remember to keep your knees bent, as it’s this natural foetal-style position that you’ll benefit from most.
What Other Positions Can I Get in With A Pillow?

To help get a better understanding of how to deal with the most common issues mentioned earlier here are some ideas of how to overcome a few of them.
-Heartburn
A rather uncomfortable ‘side-effect’ associated with pregnancy is heartburn. If you’re dealing with cases of this in the middle of the night then shift your pillows around and give propping up your upper body with them a whirl. Hopefully, you’ll be relieved soon and you can get back to enjoying your rest.
-Back Pain
If it’s issues around the back area that you’re having to deal with, then refer back to SOS position, only this time, take your pillow and place it under your abdomen as well.
-Shortness of Breath
During the latter stages of pregnancy, you might come across times in the night when you are feeling short of breath, but try not to feel anxious. For this, you can either lie on your side in or lie propped up with pillows; it’s really whichever is more beneficial and effective for you!
While the idea of some of these sleeping positions could come across as not the comfiest for you at night, it’s always worth giving them a go. The worst thing is having to ensure poor sleep and then suffer the next day, so try them out and see what works for you. There’s every chance that you’ll wriggle about and use more than one of these positions at night, but just as long as you find the sweet spot for sublime slumber, then you’re on to a winner!
Other Things to Think About

The good ones have been covered off, but what about the positions you should try your best to avoid? Because pregnant women sleeping on their backs means the abdomen is resting on your intestines and major blood vessels, it regularly leads to breathing, back, and digestive issues. And to make things worse, it can also cause hemorrhoids, low blood pressure and a reduction of circulation to your heart and your baby.
Finally, let’s mention sleeping on your stomach too. This is likely to be more relatable when you are past the initial stages of your pregnancy. Essentially, your abdomen experiences physical changes at this time, so being able to lay on your stomach isn’t comfortable or much of a good idea either.
Do you have any great tips that I’ve missed out? I’d love to hear your thoughts!