Due to the growing belly in pregnancy, it often becomes uncomfortable for women to sleep. According to experts, it is very important for pregnant women to sleep in the right posture, because sleeping in the wrong position can harm the unborn baby. At such times, the use of a pregnancy pillow can be a good option for a pregnant woman.
A woman's metabolism changes during pregnancy. Because of this she is full of tiredness. Not only this, during pregnancy, the body releases progesterone hormone to balance the pregnancy and reproductive cycle.
Due to this hormonal change, a pregnant woman can get more sleep. The increase in progesterone levels and the fall in blood sugar, blood pressure levels leads to exhaustion in the body. As a result, during pregnancy, the woman lies down for long rather than hours.
What is pregnancy pillow?
Pregnancy pillow is also known as maternity pillow. It has been specially designed keeping in mind the changes in the body of women during pregnancy, so that the pregnant woman can be supported to sleep properly. The size of this pillow is much bigger and more comfortable than the normal pillow. It can help in getting good sleep by overcoming the challenges of sleeping in the right position during pregnancy.
Benefits of pregnancy pillow during pregnancy :
There are many benefits to using a maternity pillow during pregnancy. These benefits are explained in detail below
1. For good sleep-
It is common for women to have trouble sleeping properly during pregnancy. This problem can be improved to a great extent by using pregnancy pillows. In this regard, a research has been told that the use of pregnancy pillow can boost the quality of sleep of pregnant women.
2. Relief from body pain-
Due to the weight gain of a pregnant woman during pregnancy, she may experience pain in many parts of the body like back and legs . Maternity pillow can also help in reducing this pain. Actually, by using this pillow, the back, hips, baby tummy, knees get full support, due to which the pregnant woman gets complete comfort. Also, pain in different parts of the body can also be relieved.
3. Improves blood circulation-
Using pregnancy pillow can improve blood circulation. This has been confirmed in a scientific study. According to research, it is considered good for pregnant women to sleep in prone position with maternity pillow. This can improve blood flow to the abdominals .
4. Improve sleeping position-
Not sleeping in the correct posture during pregnancy can lead to the risk of premature birth. The pregnancy pillow helps to improve sleeping position, which may reduce the risk of premature birth .
Know further, when can you start using pregnancy pillows during pregnancy.
When can I start using pregnancy pillows during pregnancy?
There is no set time to use the maternity pillow. It can be used anytime, but most pregnant women use it after the third trimester. Actually, the size and weight of the stomach starts increasing in the third trimester. Due to this pressure on the muscles and joints, there may be complaints of pain and cramps in the body. Maternity pillows can help you sleep well by providing full support and comfort to your back and hips as well as your stomach, knees. Apart from this, it is also considered beneficial for the comfort and health of the pregnant woman. In such a situation, the use of pregnancy pillow can be considered more useful in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Types of pregnancy pillow and how to use it?
There are many types of pregnancy pillows. Its different types can provide relief to a particular part of the body. Every woman goes through different problems during pregnancy. In such a situation, the need of every woman regarding pregnancy pillow is different. Hence, pregnant women can choose pregnancy pillows as per their requirement.
Below are the different maternity pillows used in pregnancy, which are as follows:
1. Pregnancy Veg Pillow
This pillow can prove to be a great pillow for pregnancy. It is quite small in size and comfortable. This pillow can be used during pregnancy and even after delivery. This pillow is available in the market in two sizes round wedge pillow and triangular wedge pillow.
How to use:
This pillow can be used under the stomach or behind the back to support the stomach or back while sleeping. This pillow can also be used to keep it under the head.
2. Full Length Maternity Pillow
This pillow is longer than usual, which serves to support the whole body. It can be very beneficial for women who have a habit of sleeping on their side. You can keep this pillow between the hands and feet, which also gives support to the stomach. This pillow also comes in two sizes, including straight full length and flexible full length pillows.
How to use:
The design of this pillow is designed for lying down by hugging. It is not placed under the abdomen or to support the back. Women can sleep with a hug by keeping this pillow between their arms and legs.
3. Total Body Pillow
The length of this pillow is about 5 to 6 inches, which suits the height of most women. It is believed that this pillow should be used after coming in the second trimester, so that the spine and back can be supported. This pillow also comes in two sizes, including the C shape pillow and the U shape pillow.
How to use:
C Shape Pillow
The C shape pillow works to support the head, back, abdomen and legs. This pillow can be considered good for women who sleep in the riding position. Women can sleep by keeping this pillow in the middle of the legs by curving from the head part towards the back.
U shape pillow
U shaped pillows are considered more useful for women who sleep on their back. The upper part of the U shape of this pillow is kept towards the head. This pillow is beneficial for giving support to the whole body.
How to choose pregnancy pillow?
No compromise should be made with the comfort of pregnant women. For this, it is necessary to provide them with the right bedding and proper pillow. This is the reason why in this part of the article, we are giving tips related to the selection of good maternity pillows:
1. Materials used for pillows-
Many types of materials are used for filling pillows. The effect of these materials can be seen on better sleep and sleep quality. Select the material used in the pregnancy pillow only after examining it.
2.Choosing a Stiff Pillow –
During pregnancy, a more soft pillow gives comfort to the body, but it is unable to support the abdomen or back area well. In this case, it may be better to choose a slightly stricter maternity pillow.
3. Right size of pillow-
At this time the right size of pillow matters a lot. There are many sizes of maternity pillows available in the market. Plus size pregnant women choose the pillow according to their needs, considering the size and comfort.
4. Do not smell -
The material used in many pillows can give a strange smell of chemical, which can affect the sleep and health of the pregnant woman. Therefore, while buying a pillow, take special care of this too.
5. Hypoallergenic Pillow-
Avoidance of allergies in pregnancy is essential. If someone is allergic to dust or dirt, opt for hypoallergenic pillows. This pillow can reduce the risk of allergies.
6. Select the pillow according to the height-
Choose the pregnancy pillow according to the height of the body. Women with tall height should choose short pillows with long and short height.
Tips to improve sleep during pregnancy
There are some measures that can be adopted to improve sleep during pregnancy.
Some of these measures are as follows:
# Exercising during pregnancy can help you sleep well. For this, pregnant women can take out some time every day to exercise under the supervision of a better instructor .
# Yoga can also be resorted to for better sleep in pregnancy . However, before doing yoga, do consult a doctor once.
# Reducing your intake of caffeinated beverages during pregnancy can also improve sleep. Therefore, reduce the intake of coffee and tea during pregnancy .
# Avoid eating or drinking anything about one to two hours before going to bed.
# Set a time to sleep at night and wake up in the morning.
# Avoid exercising or doing any kind of physical activity before going to sleep.
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