Sleep is essential, particularly for expectant mothers.
Do you agree?
Of course! Along with hormone changes, you experience several physical changes as soon as you become pregnant. However, you can maintain constant sleeping habits if you follow the proper sleeping methods throughout pregnancy. For this, it’s important to understand how to utilize a pregnancy pillow for restful sleep.
Here, you may obtain up-to-date information about using maternity cushions. You will also learn how to use various pregnancy pillows and how they might support you based on your circumstances.
In addition, you will receive precise guidance on the range of pillow placements that are beneficial for body relaxation. Even, you will also learn how to use the maternity cushion for breastfeeding in this complete and to-the-point guide on “how to use the pregnancy pillow.”
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When Should I Begin Using a Pregnancy Pillow?
There is no particular time to start using a pregnancy pillow. Indeed, you may use it from the first trimester to complete three trimesters. Even you may use it beyond pregnancy for superior-quality sleep. There’s no hard-and-fast rule on when you should start using a pregnant pillow.
Most probably, week 20 of pregnancy requires some extraordinary calmness to fight with all the discomforts of growing bumps along with developing a baby. For you to improve your health even in a tough pregnancy, this small accessory is very valuable for good naps.
Which Shape Pregnancy Pillow is Best?
To meet your needs, it’s in a variety of shapes to help you out of pain. Here is a complete list.
1. The Wedge Pillow
The wedge pillow is to support your belly and back if you are a side sleeper or back sleeper. It’s a good investment to support the body while pregnant. The inflatable pregnancy pillow is useful for a tummy sleeper. Moreover, it’s the best pick to relieve you and the baby in your womb.
2. The Full Body Pregnancy Pillow
The full-body pregnancy pillow is for side sleepers to calm the whole body and keep it healthy. Besides, it’s ergonomic and adjustable. However, it fits with the majority of body sizes and shapes.
3. The C-Shaped Pregnancy Pillow
The c-shaped pregnancy pillow is useful if you like to have short-term or long-term bedding for your buttocks.
4. The J-Shaped Pregnancy Pillow
The J-shaped pregnancy pillow is apt for use if you do not want to miss the place of your baby in the bed. Strongly, it supports your head, neck, and back.
In addition to being shape-aware, the pregnant pillow’s size and softness make it easy to utilize to meet your needs.
The bigger pillow needs more room in the bed, or it usually needs a king-size/queen-size bed.
The smaller cushion is comfortable to move on and is portable.
Preferably, choose the pillow according to your height. With average height, you may use a pad of 160–170 cm, but for taller height, you can use 250–350 cm.
5. The Firmness of Pregnancy Pillow
The firmness of a pregnancy pillow is more vital than its softness because it imparts more to comfort. You may have support of the head and neck with the right firmness of the pillow.
Which Material is Best for a Pregnancy Pillow?
In addition, if you choose the right filling material for your comfort, you may achieve high-quality comfort from the use of a pregnancy pillow right away. Like shapes, it has a lot of filling types, like:
1. Polyester Fiber is both a soft and durable material. If your body used to heat up, then it’s good to absorb heat.
2. Styrofoam balls are cheaper and allow air to flow. So if you like a buoyant and flexible pillow, it’s good to use. For all light sleepers, it’s the correct option to avail.
3. Microbead-filled pillows are lightweight but not suitable to use for allergy-sensitive guys. On the other hand, it does not have a washable pillowcase.
4. Memory Foam contours to all body shapes with fantastic support. It’s machine washable and healthy to use for all! Shredded memory foam filling prevents overheating of your body. The choice is yours!
5. Buckwheat filling is prominent due to its hypoallergenic quality. It does not absorb heat, and on top of that, it has a long-lasting life. Even for more than a decade, you can use it.
6. Water-filling pregnancy pillow is for therapeutic use.
7. Organic filling of a pregnancy pillow involves buckwheat, fiber, bamboo, and kapok. It’s hugely appreciated for hypoallergenic quality.
If you need more information about pillow washing, here is a complete guide about How to Wash Pregnancy Pillow
Thus, you may start using any of the pregnancy pillows at any time according to your liking of their size, shape, firmness, and filling material.
Sleeping Positions During Pregnancy
For the mother’s and her unborn child’s optimal health, it is important to follow the sleeping phases throughout pregnancy. A novel approach to managing all the discomfort associated with pregnancy is to carefully manage your hormonal and medicinal problems while you sleep.
First of all, try to sleep on your side to relieve all the discomforts of pregnancy. The preferably left side is the best to have the first nap for you.
For better blood circulation, it works great! Also, for back pain due to the developing baby’s body weight, it’s a very active posture. Besides, it will not allow pressure on your uterus from the liver on the right side.
Secondly, always snuggle with a pillow. For strong support of your belly, still, place the pad under the stomach. With this posture, if you keep a cushion under your knees, it will be more productive in the direction of happy naps.
Thirdly, for congestion during the maternity period, use the best pregnancy pillow for the perfect balance and stability in a way that suits you more, either as a side sleeper or back sleeper.
Fourthly, develop the habit of calf stretches before going to bed with a pregnancy cushion.
Fifthly, you may calm restless legs while placing on the pillow with its perfect firmness and softness.
Sixthly, set the pillow to support your belly in a way that allows proper breathing.
Keep away from all worries with the ideal daytime routine and sleeping manners for a happy pregnancy.
Enjoy a pleasant pregnancy with the right sleeping posture!
So, the sleeping steps for a healthy pregnancy involve all the good habits along with specific body postures.
The best of all matters is the use of a pregnancy pillow that allows you good naps no matter if you are pregnant or not. Honestly, it’s beneficial for all to have the right pillow positions.
Pillow Positions for Pregnancy
Keep yourself safe & sound with a healthy body and the correct view according to your choice!
Pillow positioning is valuable not only for sleep but also for a happy life.
Do you think about the best position to sleep?
Indeed, sleeping on the back in a neutral position is very good for you. It will calm your back and spine, along with the head region. As a result, you have zero chance of experiencing pain. So it’s good to consider it!
Moreover, sleeping while facing toward the ceiling is also helpful for the relief of acidity.
If you’re worried about how important a pillow is for getting better sleep, remember that a pillow is the MAIN tool for getting the best sleep possible. Here are a variety of pillow positions that can help you learn about the various sleeping types and how to use them more effectively when the cushion is positioned correctly.
Significantly, to lie on the bed, your spine ought to be in a natural curve. For this setup of your body, you only need to ensure the exact alignment of the shoulder and hips as well as the head. Improper position of sleep may lead to back pain with unnecessary pressure on the neck and back.
All of you love to sleep with reduced back pain.
Yes, some sleeping positions may help treat your back pain and enhance sleep.
1. Sleep on the Back with Knee Support
The best position for you to sleep would be on your back with support from your knees if you are comfortable at this posture.
Why?
Because this posture eventually distributes the weight of the body with its whole length. Similarly, it lessens the pressure points. Again, it promises you the ideal alignment of the head, spine, and neck.
Now why do you need a knee for good sleep?
The most important natural curve of the spine is simple to align with this physical support.
How to sleep with this posture?
- Lie flat on your bed.
- Position the pillow to support the head & neck.
- Use a small cushion between the knees.
Additionally, if your back has a gap between it and the mattress, then place a small pillow under the back to align it.
2. Side Sleep With a Pillow Between the Knees
The model posture is to sleep on your team for all of you to enjoy an active life. Instead of its pros, its main drawback is the lower back strain.
Anyway, you may cover it while following the small steps of this posture.
- Set yourself on the bed while rolling on one side.
- Support head and neck with cushion.
- Placed a little buffer between knees.
- For further body support, you may add one pillow under your waist.
3. Sleep in the Fetal Position
Interestingly, it’s the appropriate sleeping position as it lowers the bending of the spine and opens the joints. It’s the most recommended pillow positioning for all of you who have a herniated disc.
For this, adopt habits like
- Carefully roll yourself while lying on the bed
- Set the pillow for the neck and head
- Draw up the knees to the chest to straighten the back
4. Sleep on the Front by a Pillow Under the Stomach
In this position, the abdomen, as well as the hips, let you have the correct spinal alignment. Why is it essential to consider?
Well for herniated disc disease or degenerative disc disease, it’s handy to recover energy. Great!
But how do get it?
- Roll yourself in bed on the front side.
- Keep a pillow underneath the abdomen and hip to raising mid part of the body.
- Use a thin pad under the head.
5. Sleep on the Front with the Head Facing Down
It is simple to sleep on the front, but it creates stress on the neck and back with the twist of the spine. Lying face down with a front sleep angle boosts breathing. You may achieve it in an odd situation just by placing a pillow under the stomach.
Achieve it right away!
- Keep a slim pillow under the stomach and hips after lying on the front side.
- Put a pillow under the forehead for adequate breathing room between mouth and mattress.
In the same way, sleeping on the back in a reclined position is also useful. Some sleeping positions are healthy to adopt, while others are not.
The appropriate sleeping position for the mother & unborn baby is to lie on the side with bent knees. It’s suitable for providing enough oxygen to the baby in the mother’s womb.
To avoid heartburn, set the pillow in a sitting position halfway for good sleep.
With the progression of pregnancy, it’s dangerous to sleep on your back as it results in a lower BP of the mom and insufficient blood flow to the baby as well. Also, this posture may cause breathing and digestive issues. Even Hemorrhoids are common due to this type of sleeping posture.
How to Use a Pregnancy Pillow for Breastfeeding?
Nursing a baby is so simple with a pregnancy cushion. For a better feed to the loved one, the pregnancy pillow is most useful for inexperienced moms even.
1. Decide Position
Decide on a position while fully aware of the circumstances that work best for you. Regardless of which infant you are feeding first or second, you must always be aware of the best sitting or sleeping posture for you to breastfeed the child correctly.
2. Pillow Setting in Lap
Keep the Pillow in Your Lap for baby comfort. Noticeably place the pillow on the side that suits you for breastfeeding.
3. Set Baby on the Pillow
Position the infant on the pad gently. You need to be sure about the comfort and safety of the baby on the cushion.
4. Put your Hand Under the Baby’s Neck
Place Your Hand under the Baby’s neck/back and adjust your hand to set the face of the baby towards you while setting the end of the baby on the pillow to calm him/her.
5. Begin Feeding
When the baby is comfortable in adjustment on the pillow, gently bring him/her close to your breast. After this, start feeding. Remember, if your baby is on bottle feed, then always keep it in an inclined position to drain milk from the baby’s mouth safely.
Nursing while lying on the side demands a pillow on your side. Thus put the cushion on the front and adjust the baby on it.
Hence, the secure feeding of a baby pregnancy pillow is productive enough to soothe the mother and infant together even after pregnancy. Awe-inspiring!
How to Use Pregnancy Pillow in Bed?
Pregnancy pillows vary in how they are used. To learn it, continue reading.
The Wedge Pregnancy Pillow is highly user-friendly.
- You may take its full benefits by just placing its sloppy parts towards or under the tummy and the flat base of it on the downside of the bed.
- Place it under the pillow with the lower side to support the neck and avoid acidity.
- Next, set the pillow to fit snugly and secure your belly in the right way.
The full-body pregnancy pillow is the entire package for improved sleep.
- For the right outputs of it, put the straight part of the pad to your back. Still, move the bumpy part in front.
- With a hug to the pillow, you naturally relax your body to support the chest.
- The head alignment supports the neck and back with the right adjustment.
- Then put the final part of it between the legs for the knee’s support.
Unquestionably, this full-body maternity cushion is fully productive with its correct usage and better body alignment.
J-shaped pregnancy pillow When nighttime discomfort hurts you, it’s time to set the J-shaped pillow in the following way.
- Place the longer side of it around the back.
- Keep its larger team under a top leg.
- Then hug it again to support your knees and shoulders.
The u-shaped pregnancy pillow is suitable for you if you want full body support on the long and wide bed.
- Place it on the bed.
- A hug from its one arm.
- Place your back on another side.
To flip it, simply turn it to the other side using its sides. It’s advantageous to sleep on your back as well. In general, you should think about the following things when using a pregnant cushion on your bed:
- For the best sleep during pregnancy, you need to lie on the side. Then put a paw on top of the pillow. This posture allows for enhanced blood circulation. And it prevents leg swelling and joint aches.
- For twenty weeks of pregnancy, put the pillow underbelly for more safety.
- To stretch your bump’s weight, never lie on the back while supporting your belly with a pregnancy pillow.
- Prevent the shoulder pain just by encouraging your chest with a pregnancy pillow.
- More suitably, hug the maternity cushion while you sleep being pregnant.
- Support your head and neck for a balanced proportion.
- Sleeping on your back for the first trimester is highly valuable because, with this posture, you support your thighs while keeping your legs free. Also, it pops up the blood circulation with sufficient oxygen transmission.
Can I Use a Pregnancy Pillow If I’m Not Pregnant?
Tune up the good life with a pregnancy pillow, even if you are not pregnant! If it’s been many long hours to sleep unhealthy with regular pillows, then it’s time to notice the pillow type.
For someone who enjoys getting a good night’s sleep at whatever cost, a pregnant cushion is undoubtedly a great nap. It has several therapeutic advantages and speeds up your recovery from illnesses, including sciatica, injuries, and surgeries. Even if you have a big tummy and a small body, you can still sit or lie on it.
If you are passionate about reading and LCD watching, then it’s the first choice for all of you. Pregnancy pillow usage is the ONLY reliable source that guarantees you an active life with a sound mind & body.
Remembering my days of back pain and snoring when I want to be without both as soon as possible. Later on, my friend mentions the pregnancy pillow for healthier naps. Since that day in December 2020, I have been using it. No more back pain or suffering. And no snoring at all.
Now I can enjoy day and night equally with it for odd hours. I could not imagine life without it!
To me, nothing is better than a pregnancy pillow.
It’s not magic, but TRUE. You need to be smart for the best experience, irrespective of pregnancy.
So, if you want to remove all the discomforts of the night or the fatigue of the day, a pregnancy pillow is excellent for all days and nights. Happy naps with it forever in every budget!
100%; it is worth more than its price.
How to Sleep With a Small Pregnancy Pillow?
It is easier to sleep with a tiny pregnancy pillow, such as a wedge cushion, than with larger ones. Set aside its slop under the abdomen. The flatter side of it has to be put to bed later. Still, it’s helpful to have abdominal support.
Then put it to snuggle right away. This highly adaptable posture greatly relaxes you, even with a small maternity pad. It’s easy to use and has MASSIVE benefits with its small size and flexibility in quality.
Conclusion
In short, pregnancy pillows are useful and more relaxing, so long as you follow the right and trustworthy instructions on how to use them.
Well, to be a healthy pregnant woman, it’s exceptional to know the use of a pregnancy pillow. For the good health of your unborn baby, you need to know about the pillow types and shapes for their appropriate usage. You must choose the best sleeping position if you want to protect both you and the infant from harm.
Never adopt a sleeping position with a cushion that harms you and your baby.
I hope this tutorial is beneficial, as it provides comprehensive details on how to use a pregnancy pillow for optimal results.