When Should You Start Using One? – There’s no set time when you need to, or have to, start using a pregnancy pillow. To put it simply, you should start using one whenever you start finding it difficult to change positions during sleep. For most women, this is around week 20, when your belly starts to expand.
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Contents
- 1 When should I stop sleeping on my back during pregnancy?
- 2 Which is better U shaped or C shaped pregnancy pillow?
- 3 Are pregnancy pillows necessary?
- 4 Why do you put a pillow between your legs when pregnant?
- 5 Can you use a pregnancy pillow in the first trimester?
- 6 Can I sleep straight during 13 weeks pregnant?
- 7 Can I still lie on my back at 14 weeks pregnant?
- 8 Can I lay on my back at 15 weeks pregnant?
When should I stop sleeping on my back during pregnancy?
Can I sleep on my back when I’m pregnant? As your belly grows, sleeping on your back may not be good for you. It puts the weight of your uterus on your spine and back muscles. In the second and third trimesters, lying on your back may compress a major blood vessel that takes blood to your uterus, making you feel dizzy and possibly reducing blood flow to your fetus.
Sleeping on your side during your second and third trimesters may be best. Keep one or both knees bent. It may help to place a pillow between your knees and another under your belly. You also can try a full-length body pillow for support. Published: January 2021 Last reviewed: January 2021 Topics Copyright 2022 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
All rights reserved. Read, This information is designed as an educational aid for the public. It offers current information and opinions related to women’s health. It is not intended as a statement of the standard of care. It does not explain all of the proper treatments or methods of care.
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Which is better U shaped or C shaped pregnancy pillow?
C-shaped pregnancy pillow – A C-shaped pillow is good to place underneath your baby bump. They tend to be the next best option in pregnancy for those who don’t want their pillow taking up as much space as a U-shaped one. However, a C-shaped pillow might not offer the same support for your spine.
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Are pregnancy pillows necessary?
Do You Need One? – It depends on how you define “need.” Can you survive pregnancy without one? Sure! But you may find that sleeping is much more uncomfortable and your days are filled with more residual aches and pains than if you had one. Even though it’s not a “need,” a pregnancy pillow isn’t a luxury item: it’s something that can help you have more energy, more stamina, and more flexibility as you move throughout your pregnancy.
For people with chronic pain during pregnancy, whether it’s round ligament pain, sciatic nerve pain, or run-of-the-mill lower back pain, feeling better during those nine months is worth every penny of the cost of a pillow. That said, you can definitely piece together a supportive pregnancy nest for yourself with ordinary pillows you already have instead of purchasing a specific pillow.
The disadvantage here, though, is that you won’t easily be able to change positions during the night without rearranging your whole setup, and you won’t have a portable option for travel, if needed. By Sarah Bradley Sarah Bradley is a freelance health and parenting writer who has been published in Parents, the Washington Post, and more. Thanks for your feedback!
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Is 14 weeks too early for a pregnancy pillow?
How to Use a Pregnancy Pillow – Regular pillows serve as a headrest, but the best pregnancy pillows are designed to ease various body aches. You can start to use a maternity pillow at any time during your pregnancy, although many moms-to-be appreciate the support beginning in the second trimester, when your bump is larger and it becomes important to sleep on your side instead of your back.
- I recommend starting to use the pillow around 28 weeks when the weight of the uterus and baby is heavy enough to possibly compress the major blood vessel,” says Christian Pope, DO, FACG, an ob-gyn at St.
- Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
- Too much pressure on the inferior vena cava can inhibit blood flow causing low blood pressure, nausea and other unpleasant symptoms.
“The effects of low blood pressure on the baby can also be dangerous if it occurs for prolonged periods of time,” explains Pope. Health concerns aside, the common aches and pains of pregnancy tend to kick in after your first trimester is behind you. So how do you actually use a pregnancy pillow? “I usually recommend placing a soft pillow under your right hip and buttock to tilt the body to the left a little,” says Pope.
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Can I sleep on my back while pregnant if propped up?
Sleeping Propped Up – Nobody wants to sleep sitting up, but it might be the best way to get some shut-eye while you’re pregnant, especially if sleeping on your back is your go-to position. For this sleep position, grab a few pillows and make sure the top part of your body is propped up.
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Is it OK to sleep on your right side pregnant?
Background – Many physicians advise pregnant women to sleep on their left side. Previous studies have linked back and right-side sleeping with a higher risk of stillbirth, reduced fetal growth, low birth weight, and preeclampsia, a life-threatening high blood pressure disorder that affects the mother.
Researchers have hypothesized that, with these sleep positions, the increasing weight of the uterus during pregnancy could compress the aorta (the central artery conveying blood to the upper and lower abdomen) and the inferior vena cava (the central vein returning blood from the lower abdomen to the heart).
The authors of the current study note that many of these earlier studies included a small number of women. Moreover, most asked women about their sleeping positions after the stillbirth or other complication. This raises the possibility of recall bias—that women who had a complication may unintentionally overemphasize a sleep position because they thought it could be responsible for the complication.
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Why do you put a pillow between your legs when pregnant?
– During the first trimester, it is safe for a woman to sleep in whatever position she feels comfortable in, whether this is on her back, side, or stomach. Any combination of the above positions is also fine. The uterus has not grown large enough to interfere with sleep.
- However, hormonal changes, nighttime hunger, nausea, and other pregnancy symptoms may make sleep more difficult.
- As a woman reaches the second and third trimesters, it is ideal to sleep on the left side.
- Being in this position maximizes blood flow to the uterus without putting pressure on the liver.
- Women who experience hip or back pain during pregnancy may find that placing a pillow or two between the knees or bending the knees during sleep can help provide relief.
A woman who prefers to sleep on her right side can adopt this position instead. There is no research showing that this is dangerous. Some other sleep positions that may help resolve common issues include:
raising the upper body with a few pillows to reduce heartburn elevating the legs with pillows to help with swelling and leg pain using a body pillow or pregnancy pillow to cradle the body and provide additional back support
Do pregnancy pillows help in first trimester?
In your first trimester, you might use your pillow to keep you from rolling onto your stomach or back. As you progress throughout your pregnancy, you’ll probably find your pregnancy pillow is invaluable.
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Can you use a pregnancy pillow in the first trimester?
When should you start using a pregnancy pillow? – You can begin using a pregnancy pillow as soon as you’d like, but you’ll probably find it most comfortable during your second and third trimesters. The goal is to help you feel comfortable and supported as you sleep. You can also use some pregnancy pillows for postnatal support.
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Can I sleep straight during 13 weeks pregnant?
Can you sleep on your stomach during pregnancy? – Sleeping on your stomach is fine in early pregnancy—but sooner or later you’ll have to turn over. “Before 12 weeks, you can sleep any way you want,” Twogood says. “A lot of women have breast tenderness or sensitivity, so many aren’t comfortable sleeping on their stomachs early on.
- But it’s just discomfort—it won’t cause any harm.” Henning agrees, adding that sleeping on your stomach while pregnant is okay until the belly really starts to show, usually between 16 and 18 weeks, depending on how big the belly gets and how quickly.
- After this point, not only does sleeping on your stomach get pretty uncomfortable, but it also becomes unsafe for baby.
Sleeping on your stomach while pregnant can cause your baby bump to move inside your stomach and press against the aorta and IVC. “Sleeping flat on your stomach has the same negative effects as sleeping on your back,” Twogood explains.
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Can I still lie on my back at 14 weeks pregnant?
Is it safe to sleep on my back during pregnancy? – If you typically sleep on your back (supine), it’s safe to continue doing so through the first trimester. But as your uterus gets heavier around mid-pregnancy, it’s best to choose another position. That’s because lying on your back allows your growing uterus to compress the inferior vena cava (mentioned above), which could theoretically interfere with the flow of blood and nutrients to the placenta and developing baby.
It can also result in decreased blood flow for you, which may cause dizziness, shortness of breath, or a fast heart rate. Back sleeping can also contribute to the circulation problems mentioned above (varicose veins, hemorrhoids, swelling) as well as muscle aches and pains and snoring, which can lead to sleep apnea as you put on weight.
Don’t be alarmed if you go to sleep on your side and wake up flat on your back. It happens all the time and shouldn’t have any serious adverse effect on your baby’s health. Just shift your position and go back to sleep.
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Can I still sleep on my back at 14 weeks pregnant?
What Is the Best Second Trimester Sleeping Position? – Left side sleeping Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.
- Pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov is considered the best sleeping position for later pregnancy as it allows for unrestricted blood flow to the fetus and kidneys.
- While this may not be necessary yet at the start of the second trimester Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, this is a good time to practice switching over to your left side. If you’re having trouble finding a comfortable position, a recliner may be a good option. Stomach sleeping may be fine for the first part of the second trimester, until the growing baby bump makes this position uncomfortable.
Starting around week 16, you should try to avoid sleeping on your back. This position puts the weight of the uterus on top of the inferior vena cava, which can cut off blood flow, cause swelling in your legs and ankles. If you’re not a natural side sleeper, you can try using strategically placed pillows to prevent yourself from rolling over onto your back.
A pregnancy body pillow or wedge pillow may help you to adopt a more comfortable position. Likewise, smaller pillows tucked under the waist and belly may relieve pressure, and a pillow between the knees can help improve the alignment of the hips and spine.
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Which position is not good during pregnancy?
Lying down – Pregnancy hormones cause the ligaments to relax. As a result, you may feel uncomfortable, even in bed. Here are tips to help you cope:
It’s best to avoid lying on your back, especially in late pregnancy, when the weight of the heavy uterus can press on the large blood vessels in your belly. When lying on your side, keep your body in line, with your knees bent slightly, and avoid twisting. Use pillows for support behind your back, between your legs, and under your belly. Most women find that a firm mattress with a good pad provides the best support. To get out of bed, raise your upper body with your arms and hands to a sitting position, then move your legs over the side of the bed. Stand up slowly, using your leg muscles.
Can I sleep on my back at 14 weeks pregnant?
What Is the Best Second Trimester Sleeping Position? – Left side sleeping Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.
Pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov is considered the best sleeping position for later pregnancy as it allows for unrestricted blood flow to the fetus and kidneys. While this may not be necessary yet at the start of the second trimester Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, this is a good time to practice switching over to your left side. If you’re having trouble finding a comfortable position, a recliner may be a good option. Stomach sleeping may be fine for the first part of the second trimester, until the growing baby bump makes this position uncomfortable.
Starting around week 16, you should try to avoid sleeping on your back. This position puts the weight of the uterus on top of the inferior vena cava, which can cut off blood flow, cause swelling in your legs and ankles. If you’re not a natural side sleeper, you can try using strategically placed pillows to prevent yourself from rolling over onto your back.
A pregnancy body pillow or wedge pillow may help you to adopt a more comfortable position. Likewise, smaller pillows tucked under the waist and belly may relieve pressure, and a pillow between the knees can help improve the alignment of the hips and spine.
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Can I lay on my back for 15 minutes while pregnant?
So What’s the Important Takeaway? – Whether you’re in your first trimester or third, you should try sleeping in the position that’s best for your body and your baby. Yes, you should avoid sleeping on your back while pregnant, as it can cause pain and other health issues. But it’s important that you try to sleep as peacefully as possible. If you do happen to find yourself sleeping on your back.
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Can I lay on my back at 15 weeks pregnant?
Can you sleep on your back during pregnancy? – While it’s touted as one of the best sleep positions for posture, sleeping on your back while pregnant is largely considered a no-no. Between 15 and 20 weeks gestation, the uterus starts becoming large enough to interfere with blood flow when you sleep on your back, as it can compress the IVC.
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