While a lot of viral challenges are pointless and some are even dangerous, every once in a while, the internet gets it right! The best example of this is the watermelon pregnancy challenge where husbands of pregnant women strap a watermelon to their bellies for 24 hours to understand just how difficult it is on the body.
It’s interesting to see these to-be-dads start off confident that they will ace the challenge only for them to realize within a few hours that they are developing aches and pains. By the end of the day, most of them give up on even trying to get some shut-eye with the melon strapped to them.
In addition to highlighting how difficult it is to go about everyday tasks during pregnancy, it also shows just how tough it is to get a good night’s sleep when you’re pregnant. This is why pregnancy pillows are an absolute godsend.
How Pregnancy Pillows Improve Sleep
- Reduces Pressure Points
After a long and exhausting day, you crave the comfort of your bed but when you’re pregnant, this just isn’t enough. No matter how often you try to adjust your sleeping position, you can’t seem to find one that works for you. That’s because no matter how you position your body, there is still going to be pressure on your hips, lower back and knees.
This is where a pregnancy pillow comes in – these pillows help to cushion your body and reduce the pressure on all these areas so that you don’t wake up feeling achy and tired. Pregnancy pillows come in a variety of shapes and sizes so it’s important to pick one that suits your specific needs.
You can compare some of the best pregnancy pillows that have been vetted by experts to help you make a decision – there’s even a $10 option from Target that doesn’t skimp on support!
- Provides Belly Support
As your baby grows and your belly swells, it becomes increasingly uncomfortable to sleep on your side without any support. Some moms try to use multiple throw pillows to support their belly while sleeping but even the slightest movement results in a cascade of pillows!
A pregnancy pillow provides your belly with ample support so that you can get comfortable and sleep through the night.
- Prevents Back Sleeping
If you were used to sleeping on your back before you got pregnant, it can be difficult to adjust to sleeping on your side. However, it’s important that you avoid sleeping on your back during the latter stages of your pregnancy as research shows that this sleeping position is linked to an increased risk of a stillbirth.
By this point in your pregnancy, your uterus is heavy and it can press against the veins and affect blood flow to your baby which increases the risk of a stillbirth. When you’re pregnant, you are likely to change positions during your sleep and a pregnancy pillow will allow you to switch from one side to the other but you won’t be able to sleep on your back.
- Reduces Feet Swelling
Swelling in the feet or edema is very common during pregnancy. One of the main reasons for this is that when you are pregnant, you have approximately fifty percent more blood and fluids in your body which is required for your little one to grow and develop.
Your growing uterus also puts pressure on the veins that return blood from your legs back to your heart which can reduce blood circulation in your feet and cause fluid build-up in your ankles and feet which can be painful. A pregnancy pillow helps to elevate your feet while you sleep which reduces the swelling and pain in your feet so that you get better sleep.
- Relieves Acid Reflux and heartburn
Acid reflux and heartburn are also common issues during pregnancy that can affect your sleep. While eating smaller meals at night and cutting back on fatty or spicy foods can help to reduce acid reflux and heartburn to some extent, you are still likely to face this issue, especially in your third trimester when your growing uterus presses up on your stomach.
Studies show that anywhere between 17% and 45% of women experience acid reflux and heartburn during pregnancy. A pregnancy pillow elevates your upper body which helps to prevent acid reflux and heartburn so that it’s easier for you to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Marissa is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist turned stay-at-home mom who loves sharing her tips, tricks, and ideas for navigating motherhood. Her days are filled starting tickle wars and dance parties with three energetic toddlers and wondering how long she can leave the house a mess until her husband notices. When she doesn’t have her hands full of children, she enjoys a glass (or 3) of wine, reality tv, and country music. In addition to blogging about all things motherhood, she sells printables on Etsy and has another website, teachinglittles.com, for kid’s activity ideas.
