The further along into your pregnancy, the less sleep you get, right? Well, a maternity pillow is your greatest companion, as it allows you to maintain the best sleeping position during pregnancy for you and your baby throughout the night, supporting your bump and relieving back pain. Find out how to sleep with a pillow when pregnant!
Why is sleeping during pregnancy difficult?
No matter how tired you feel (and that’s very tired!), you still can't get as much rest and sleep as you truly need, especially at night.
You struggle to fall asleep as your stomach hurts, you can't find a comfortable position, you constantly have to get up to go the toilet, you have cramp in your leg, sometimes you simply wake up for no reason at all.
Your baby's metabolism is always active, and your body is constantly supplying them with oxygen and nourishment. This can disrupt your own body and cause insomnia
In addition, mums-to-be experience a number of discomforts that can make pregnancy sleeping even more difficult, such as nausea, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, poor digestion, leg cramps, and more frequent urination at night.
It's estimated that at least 50 per cent of pregnant women suffer from insomnia, poor sleep quality and excessive tiredness during the day.
Why a good night’s sleep is important during pregnancy
Sleeping well during pregnancy is important for the mum-to-be and her baby.
Sleepless nights and poor sleep quality lead to tiredness throughout the day, resulting in a bad mood, trouble concentrating, and difficulty in going about daily life.
It is also one of the risk factors for gestational diabetes, high blood pressure during the third trimester and pre-eclampsia.
That is why it is important to try to improve the quality of your sleep. There are several remedies for insomnia during pregnancy to help you, such as eating a light dinner and avoiding sugars and spicy foods, establishing a relaxing evening routine, and doing physical activity throughout the day, such as a nice walk or yoga.
The most effective thing you can do is to use a pregnancy pillow, which will help you adopt the best sleeping position in pregnancy as well as support the weight of your baby bump.
Pregnancy sleeping pillow - your new best friend
What is a pregnancy pillow and why is it a miracle-worker?
It is a pillow for pregnant women, designed especially for the third trimester as it offers much needed support to a pregnant woman’s back and bump, even at night. It helps mums-to-be maintain the correct sleeping position and alleviates common pregnancy discomforts: back pain, swollen legs, and the additional belly weight.
Some models, such as Koala Hugs, can also be used during daytime naps to support the back area and keep legs elevated to relieve swelling.
What is the best way to sleep pregnant, as recommended by gynaecologists and midwives?
The semi-fetal position, with your pregnancy pillow positioned between your bent knees and supporting your head and bump. This reduces tension in your lower back and pelvic area.
It is preferable to lie on your left side, as it prevents the unborn baby from pressing on your liver and blood vessels, facilitating blood flow and breathing.
Why is it better to avoid sleeping on your back or stomach?
Sleeping on your back when pregnant compresses the vena cava, reducing blood flow to your heart and brain. In addition, the weight of your bump puts too much strain on your back area, resulting in pain and discomfort.
Sleeping on your stomach, on the other hand, has no particular implications except that it will become less and less comfortable as your belly grows.
Changing the position that you’ve slept in all your life is by no means easy. Despite starting out with good intentions, the risk of tossing and turning during the night is high. This is another reason why you need a pregnancy pillow, as it keeps you in the correct position.
How to use a body pillow when pregnant
Lie on your left side with your knees bent, resting your head on one end of your pregnancy pillow, with the other end placed between your knees. By doing so, your pillow surrounds and supports your baby bump.
Why do we always talk about the left side and not the right side?
Lying on your left side is the correct position as it facilitates blood flow through the vena cava, which would be hindered by lying on your right side.
The vena cava is the largest blood vessel in our body and is particularly important during pregnancy: it is through the vena cava that oxygen and nutrients are transported to the unborn baby.
Why is it important to place a pregnancy cushion between your knees?
Bent knees which are joined together can put strain on your sciatic nerve and move your body forward into an incorrect position.
By placing a pregnancy pillow between your knees, your hips will be correctly aligned, and your belly area will have ample room to breathe.
Koala Hugs: a pregnancy pillow and more
Lie on your left side, hugging your Koala Hugs - just like a koala would, and waking up feeling refreshed will no longer just be an elusive dream!
Use it during the day too as a lower back support when sitting or in a semi-reclining position for relief from back pain. Koala Hugs Plus is the only pregnancy pillow which comes with an additional support cushion: place it behind your neck for maximum support to your back!
With Koala Hugs Plus you can be sure you won't change position while you sleep, as the extra cushion pad, when placed behind your back, will help you maintain your sleeping position.
But that's not all: Koala Hugs is not just a pregnancy pillow, but also a breastfeeding pillow. It reduces strain on a mum’s arms, shoulders and neck and helps prevent Plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome) in babies.
In addition, you can use it for Tummy Time and for encouraging crawling.
Koala Pregnancy Pillow is one of those newborn essentials that every new mum simply can’t live without. It will fast become your closest companion during pregnancy, nursing, and your baby's first year of life!
