Maintain the Correct Pregnancy Sleeping Position With the Help of a Maternity Pillow

Regardless of what pregnancy sleeping position you adopt in the later stages of pregnancy, it is still difficult to get truly comfortable. Many pregnant women swear by the various designs of maternity pillows that are now widely available, although there may be some constraints due to the size of your bed and whether your partner is also able to fit in the bed when the full-length pillow is used.

Most pregnant moms confirm that the use of a proper maternity pillow 'feels like heaven' as somebody described it. If you do not have access to a proper pregnancy pillow, however, even an ordinary pillow propping up your abdomen will do wonders for your comfort.

There is a lot of discussion nowadays on what women should and shouldn't do when pregnant. Much of it is valid - the results of extensive research that can be backed up; some of it seems rather spurious. Rather than allowing pregnant women to become paranoid about what they are or they are not doing, pregnancy needs to be put into perspective. Long before the experts appeared on the scene women were having babies.

Advice from Healthcare Professionals

When you sleep on you left side during pregnancy, keep your legs bent slightly. For maximum comfort, place a maternity pillow in position to wedge your abdomen into the most comfortable position. Unless you have the benefit of a full-size maternity pillow, place a further pillow between your legs. Maternity pillows have been designed to relieve pressure on your hips, back and joints and provide optimal support for your growing abdomen. The reason this particular pregnancy sleeping position is advocated is because it facilitates circulation, encourages your kidneys to eliminate waste more effectively and encourages the digestive system to work better.

Basically, you cannot go far wrong if you heed what your own doctor advises whilst listening to your body as well. Generally, the pregnancy sleeping position advised as being the best for both mother and baby is to sleep on the left side because, sleeping in this position increases the flow of blood to the placenta, the uterus and the legs - thereby preventing your legs from swelling and preventing that dreadfully painful leg cramp from occurring. Furthermore, sleeping on your left keeps the weight of your pregnancy from compressing your liver which is a large organ on the right side of your body - an organ that is heavily suffused with blood and essential for ensuring healthy nutrients reach both you and your baby.