Getting a good night’s sleep during the pregnancy period is hard. A pregnant woman’s body is preparing for the event of childbirth and is in work towards the development of the baby. Getting sufficient time for rest is a necessary part of a woman’s pregnancy. However, it is strange that when the body needs it most, sleep sabotages people.
There are a lot of different sleeping positions during pregnancy that can influence your posture and help you to sleep comfortably. Your sleeping position affects your body as well as your baby. If you sleep on your back during pregnancy, there is a possibility that the weight of your growing baby will press on the nerves and blood vessels in your stomach, which can lead to lower back pain and numbness in your limbs.
How will a prenatal chiropractor help me?
A prenatal chiropractor can help you to identify the possible causes of your back pain and help you to address it. Chiropractors use spinal manipulation to correct any misalignment in the spine and neck. They also advise patients on healthy living habits such as posture and diet.
In addition to this, a chiropractor can provide you with support pillows for comfort during pregnancy, so you can find a comfortable sleeping position during pregnancy. He or she can also give you advice on some sleeping positions during pregnancy that you can try out.
Why Should I See a Chiropractor During Pregnancy?
Pregnancy can cause additional stress on joints and ligaments as the baby grows inside of you. Your center of gravity changes as the baby grows and your hips widen, which can lead to an increased risk of back pain or joint strain. In addition to causing discomfort, these issues may also affect your posture and may increase pressure on your uterus or pelvis. Visiting a chiropractor for prenatal care can help alleviate this pain and pressure, improving your comfort during pregnancy.
How to Sleep When Pregnant
Finding an ideal sleeping position will always change in each trimester, and it can be considered a challenge also. Here is something pregnant women can do, to avoid twists and turns on their beds.
Sleeping On Tummy During Pregnancy
It is okay for women that are in their early stages of pregnancy to sleep on their tummies. However, this sleeping position is not advisable, especially for a prolonged period. This sleeping position can affect the woman’s blood circulation, which could also bring harm to their baby.
Doctors and experts recommend that women in the second and third trimesters should avoid sleeping on their tummies. The sleeping on their stomach position can also press the baby against the vena cava. The Vena cava is the one responsible for carrying blood back to the heart.
Sleeping On Back
During the first trimester, pregnant women don’t need to worry about their sleeping position. However, when they are in their second trimester, they need to avoid sleeping on their back.
When they lie on their back, the uterus will put pressure on the vein that will cause the blood to return to the heart. Lying on the back for an extended period can restrain nutrients and blood to reach the baby and their placenta. It is also the cause of nausea and dizziness.
The advised sleep position during pregnancy is SOS or sleep on the side. Also, according to doctors, pregnant women should sleep on their left side. Sleeping on their left side helps increase both nutrients and blood. Also, it can reach the placenta and their baby as well.
Sleeping On Side (SOS)
Compared to sleeping on your back or front, lying on the side is the best. Among the two sides, left and right, sleeping on the left side is the best position. Sleeping on the right side can give pressure to the liver, so experts advise avoiding sleeping on the right side.
The left side is the best position because it helps the uterus to exert pressure to the liver. It will also allow the fetus to get enough nutrients and oxygen thru the placenta. Sleeping on the left side can also improve a pregnant woman’s blood circulation. Lastly, it can help pregnant women to reduce the energy that they spent in drawing the optimal blood flow to both the fetus and them.
If pregnant women don’t like sleeping on the left side for an extended period, they can alternate their sleeping positions to the right side. Also, they can freely turn from right to the left, but with the precaution of not sleeping on the right side for a long time.
Here are some ways that can slightly ease uncomfortable positions and restless legs that pregnant woman feels:
- If expectant mothers are having difficulty and discomfort like back pain, they can use the SOS position. After that, they can try placing a pillow under their abdomen.
- They can also keep their knees and legs bent. And put a pillow between their legs.
- Some pregnant women are experiencing heartburn at night time. They can try leveling their upper body with the use of pillows.
- Women that are in their late pregnancy, sometimes experience shortness of breath. They can level their upper body with a pillow or try to lie on their side.
The suggestions above may not be comfortable for all women, especially those that are always sleeping on their stomachs or back. Some of the suggestions may work, and others may not be favorable to it. Expectant mothers just need to remember that they must not stay in a single position for a long time. Changing different positions from time to time is highly advisable.
Takeaway
There are times that women have difficulty having a good night’s sleep, most of the time it is due to the discomfort that they feel. Since there are a lot of uncomfortable episodes in a woman’s pregnancy, knowing the best and safest position to sleep in is important.
