- October 14, 2022
- Comments: 0
- Posted by: Dr. Anushri Shah
Many women question how to sleep comfortably while expecting. Having trouble falling asleep is normal during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester when it can be difficult to find a comfortable position. Some expectant women may also worry that particular body positions might endanger the foetus or themselves.
As we all know, getting enough sleep is essential for everyone, not just pregnant women. However, there are a number of factors to take into account when it comes to expecting mothers and little ones. To help you understand any particular conflicts here is precise guidance on how pregnant women should sleep and the best pregnancy sleeping positions.
Pregnancy Sleeping Position: Best & Worst
What’s the safest sleep position during pregnancy? There’s a lot more to know!
Best Sleeping Position During Pregnancy
SOS (Sleep-on-side): When you’re more than halfway through your pregnancy, sleeping on your side is the best position for you and your baby. Additionally, your veins and internal organs are least stressed when you sleep on your side. By doing so, you optimize the blood flow to the uterus, which ensures your baby receives the most nutrients and oxygen possible. Reduced swelling, varicose veins, and haemorrhoids are additional advantages of having good circulation.
Worst Sleeping Position During Pregnancy
Here are the following sleeping positions you should avoid to get comfortable sleep during pregnancy.
Sleeping on your back: After the fifth month, sleeping on your back is not recommended for pregnant women. The blood vessels that run behind your uterus and transport blood from your legs and feet back to your heart, the aorta and the inferior vena cava, are subjected to additional pressure when you sleep on your back. These vessels are under pressure, which can slow the flow of blood to your body and your unborn child.
Sleeping on your stomach: Is tummy down sleeping your preferred position? In the early stages of pregnancy, sleeping on your stomach is acceptable, but doing so in the second and third trimesters puts pressure on your growing uterus. Using a pillow with a hole in the middle, on the other hand, may allow you to sleep comfortably.
Pregnant Women Should Sleep on Left Side: Fact or Myth
The left side is particularly advantageous because it allows the most blood flow to the baby. It also improves kidney functionality. Putting a pillow under your abdomen and between your knees is a good-to-go option. This may induce a sufficient tilt to make sleeping on your side more comfortable. Another option for additional support is to place a pillow behind your back. If you have any queries or worries about which type of sleeping position you should adopt; speak to a healthcare provider.
How to Sleep During Pregnancy
As you progress through pregnancy, your uterus gets bigger, making bedtime more challenging. Early on in pregnancy, it’s OK to sleep on your stomach for the first trimester if it is comfortable. Lying on your back is not advised because of pressure on the nerves & veins causing back aches & other sleeping discomforts. Hence SOS (Sleep-on-side) left side is the most recommended sleeping position for pregnant women. As there’s no evidence of which side to sleep it’s good to make a switch as per your comfort.
Sleeping Tips for Pregnant Women: Bottom Line!
Even after you find a comfortable sleeping position (and the perfect pregnancy pillows to make it work), good sleep may be hard to get. Pregnancy symptoms like the constant need to pee, nausea, heartburn, and restless legs can make it hard to sleep well when you’re pregnant. But there are plenty of sleep strategies to try, too:
Cut down on caffeine
Go for relaxing pregnancy massage therapy
Drink more fluids in the morning and less at night
Join pregnancy yoga classes
Plan a good-quality sleep cycle
We are guaranteed these tips will not only help you get a good quality sleep regime; in fact, they are gonna deal with all the pregnancy difficulties you may face during this period. Divine Mother is one of the best healthcare centres you should definitely visit & take advantage of the advantageous services they have to make your rollercoaster pregnancy journey as smooth as possible.