During the last half of your pregnancy and especially the last trimester, you may feel that your back pain and lack of sleep will never disappear.
As you walk around all day with the extra pounds in front, pulling on your spine and back muscles, there is nothing more frustrating to know that a good night sleep may not leave you refreshed.
If you are used to sleeping on your front, that is obviously a no-no with a baby inside of you. Doctors also recommend that you don’t sleep on your back during the last trimester since it creates too much pressure on your internal organs and can lead to high blood pressure.
So that leaves sleeping on your side, but with the added discomfort of gravity pulling on your new baby on twisting into unnatural positions that can leave you feeling tired in the morning.
Luckily there are a range of Pregnancy pillows, which can help you sleep comfortably and conquer one of the more uncomfortable aspects of pregnancy.
Here is a guide for the most common types of Pregnancy pillows.
The Wedge
Wedge pregnancy pillows slide in under your stomach and provide support for your developing baby. They are relatively inexpensive and don’t take up a lot of room on your bed. They have the extra advantage of being portable so you can take them on trips, or use them as a back rest while watching T.V. On the down side, they don’t offer a lot of back support or promote proper positioning while sleeping. Many women also report waking up having turned over in the middle of the night without their wedge pregnancy pillow.
The Maternity Body Pillow
The maternity body pillow is similar to body pillows you may already be familiar with. They are sometimes known as J shaped body pillows because they curve to allow you to place the pillow between your legs easing the pressure on your spine while still maintaining support for your baby and your head. These can also be quite comfortable and relaxing to sleep with, especially if you get hot at night as they are usually covered with cool easily washed fabrics. They are a little bulkier than wedge pillows but are quite comfortable on a queen sized bed or larger. They don’t offer a lot of back support, but naturally put your body in a great position to sleep the night through.
The U Shaped Pregnancy Pillow
If you’ve ever wanted to sleep in a womb like your baby is doing then this is the pillow for you. U shaped maternity body pillows are usually contoured and provide support for you back as well as your front. The bottom part of the U allows you to keep your legs separated taking pressure of your back and hips. It provides support for your head and baby and leaves you feeling pampered and protected all night. You can also turn to whichever side is most comfortable without having to adjust your pillow. The down side of these pillows is that you will need a lot of room. If you are sleeping with your spouse, and he doesn’t feel like snuggling up with your pillow you will need at least a king sized bed. Having said that these pillows are so comfortable it may be worth getting a king sized bed if you don’t already have one.
Whichever type of pillow you choose, keep in mind that although they are designed for an immediate need during your pregnancy, they are comfortable to have around anytime you want to take the pressure of your back and many can even be used to help nurse your baby comfortably. They are a great long term as well as a short term investment in easing your back pain.