Sleep Positions during Pregnancy: Good Sleep

A good night's sleep is a mustcomponent of every person's health. But for pregnant women this issue is especially relevant, since the body works in an enhanced mode. From the first weeks of pregnancy, a woman feels increased fatigue and fatigue. That is why rest is so important for the expectant mother. It is believed that pregnancy is a rare period in a woman's life when time belongs only to her: the required number of hours of sleep, good rest and quality nutrition. But it is precisely during this "sweet time" that difficulties with sleep arise. Rapid heartbeat, increased anxiety, indigestion - all this is an obstacle to good rest. Insomnia, chronic lack of sleep can cause various diseases, both for the future baby and the mother herself. In order for a woman's sleep to be calm and not harm the future baby, it is necessary to choose a safe position. What is the best sleeping position during pregnancy? This issue requires detailed consideration, taking into account all the physiological features of the "interesting situation".

Safe sleep posture during pregnancy

In the early stages of pregnancy, the expectant mothercan take any sleeping position without harm to the fetus. Up to 12 weeks, the uterus with the embryo is within the pelvis. This means that it is safe to sleep on the stomach. The only discomfort can be caused by the breasts, the sensitivity of which increases significantly. In the 5th to 7th month of pregnancy, it is strictly forbidden to sleep on the stomach, so as not to injure the child. The embryo is reliably protected by amniotic fluid, but even this fact does not exclude the risk of damage to the fetus by the heavy weight of the pregnant woman. In the end, it is also uncomfortable for the mother herself to sleep on her stomach, which has already grown noticeably. The back position will not interfere with sleep in the first trimester. But as the term increases and the tummy grows, the back position will also have to be sacrificed. The fact is that after 26 weeks, the inferior vena cava pressure syndrome appears. This means that the already quite heavy fetus with waters presses on the intestines and vena cava, which interferes with blood circulation and oxygen supply to the child. The baby may develop hypoxia - lack of oxygen. The baby itself can “declare” its discomfort by starting to push excessively. In this case, it is necessary to change the position, turning on its side. The mother herself may experience dizziness, increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, difficulty breathing, impaired blood circulation in the internal organs, and exacerbation of hemorrhoids. The latter can be a serious problem, especially in the last stages. Exacerbation of hemorrhoids and difficulty with stool are harmful for pregnant women, since the accumulation of toxins in the body has a very detrimental effect on the fetus. The safest position, which has a beneficial effect on restful sleep, is the position on the left side. It is in this position that blood circulation occurs fully, since nothing interferes with blood circulation. This means that both the mother and the baby will receive a sufficient amount of oxygen. And it is preferable to sleep on the left side, because there is no pressure on the liver, which is located on the right. After sleeping on the side, there is no pain in the back and pelvic area. But these rules are unambiguous with the correct position of the fetus in the uterus. With a transverse fetal position, it is recommended to sleep on the side where the baby's head is. If the fetus is in a breech presentation, then you need to turn from side to side 3-4 times a night.

Use of pillows for safe and healthy sleep of pregnant women

For a woman who is used to sleeping on her right side,back or stomach, it is quite difficult to train yourself to sleep in the correct position. And those who like to sleep on their left side during pregnancy will still experience discomfort due to a large belly. For pregnant women, there is an excellent alternative to maintain healthy sleep with maximum comfort using pillows. For convenience, take the desired sleeping position, you will need several pillows. The pillows should be soft enough to take the desired shape. One pillow is placed under the stomach, the other - between the knees. If the sleeping position is the left side, then it is good to bend the right leg, and stretch the left one. You can additionally put a bolster under the lower back, this will make the situation easier. There are special pillows for pregnant women on sale, which in their shape repeat the anatomical contours of the abdomen of the expectant mother. Such pillows are horseshoe-shaped and filled with polystyrene inside. With their help, pregnant women can lie down comfortably and ensure a restful sleep. These practical products can later be used for feeding the baby. If it is not possible to buy a special pillow, you can sew one. It should be 1800 - 2000 cm long and 30 - 50 cm in circumference. The pillow cover can be made of cotton, sewing in a zipper for easy removal. The pillow is filled with polystyrene balls inside and sewn tightly. The pillow should not be filled tightly so that it is soft and comfortable. For the health of a pregnant woman, the most important thing is good rest and sleep patterns. Therefore, if the expectant mother finds it difficult to fall asleep in the "right" position, then she should not stop looking for another comfortable option. During pregnancy, a good mother will always feel her baby and find the right position so that both she and the baby feel good.