What is the Best Position to Sleep in While Pregnant?

Why Is Laying on Your Back Least Favored by Doctors and Midwives?

Most doctors and midwives warn pregnant mother’s to avoid laying on their back during pregnancy, especially, during the last few months when your belly is huge.  When you lay on your back, you are actually putting quite a bit of added pressure on your spine.  Most mom’s don’t realize that the weight of the uterus and your baby can put additional pressure on your spine, back muscles, intestines, and major blood vessels.  Also, putting additional pressure on your spine can cause a pinched nerve in your back, muscle pain in your back, additional back pain, constipation, hemorrhoids, decreased blood circulation which can cause you to become uncomfortable and reduces the amount of nutrients that can get to the placenta, snoring, blood pressure problems, and potentially leads to sleep apnea.

How Can Mom’s Adjust to Sleeping on Their Side?

It is important for mom’s to begin training themselves how to sleep on their side as soon as they find out that they are pregnant.  This will help you figure out what position is the most comfortable for you and allows your body to adjust to sleeping in a different position.  Most side sleepers find it important to sleep with a pillow or a support between there knees so that their hips line up properly.  Some mom’s even prefer a body pillow or a pillow that is specially designed for pregnant mothers.

Like these pregnancy body pillows? Click on the photo for more information.

Did you use a body pillow during pregnancy?