The right sleeping position can spell the difference between a good night’s rest and one that will leave you cranky and tired in the morning. If you are a pregnant woman, you want to be as comfortable in the few hours of uninterrupted sleep you have. This means finding the best position that will allow you to breathe well without leaving you sore in the morning. Here are the best sleeping positions for pregnant women and how they can benefit you.
Left Side Position
This is one of the best postures for pregnant women because as the baby grows in size, the mother becomes more prone to heartburn. To prevent this, sleep on your left side with both arms laid out comfortably in front of you. This puts less pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter, which is the ring of muscle where food passes as it goes to the gut. Bend your knees and curl in a slight fetal position. More importantly, a side lying position to the left puts less pressure on your vena cava and allows for maximum blood circulation to all parts of your body.
Side-lying position with legs supported
This position is good for women experiencing back pain. It is natural for a pregnant woman to feel back pain because of the weight that the child is putting on her lower back and spine. To alleviate the pain when you sleep, you can lie on your side with your spine in its natural, slightly curved position, with your knees slightly bent and stacked one on top of the other. Separate your knees with a firm pillow to make your hips feel more relaxed and open. This position also helps keep the spinal alignment in check and prevent more back pain in the morning. The support of the pillows also prevents blood from pooling on your lower legs, and can reduce swelling in that area.
Any position that is comfortable for you.
There are certain positions that your body will return to as you sleep, and you might find yourself in this position in the middle of the night. There is no cause for alarm if you catch yourself lying on your back or even on your tummy. These positions will not harm your baby, and more often than not, you will wake up in time to move into the right position once again. Have pillows handy so that it is easy to arrange yourself to the right position in bed whenever you need to.
Pregnancy is a time marked by many adjustments in how you eat, move and sleep. The aforementioned sleep positions are the best for pregnant women because they maintain proper circulation, allow the body to rest in a natural, comfortable position and prevent complications such as blood pooling in the legs and difficulty breathing. However, other positions are still safe as long as you are comfortable. You can get the right amount of sleep without compromising your health and the health of your baby.
