It’s no secret: your body will change a lot over 9 months of pregnancy, and with it, so will how you sleep. From difficulty falling asleep to multiple trips to the bathroom, getting good sleep while pregnant can be really, really difficult.
That said, along with following your doctor’s recommendations and advice, there are a few simple sleep tips that will help you get the best possible sleep while pregnant. Here at Coop Home Goods, we’re committed to help everyone get the best sleep they possibly can, night after night, especially pregnant women!
Let’s get started, shall we?
How Your Body Will Change During 9 Months of Pregnancy
Your body will change a lot while you’re pregnant. “Some symptoms are familiar to women, like weight gain, nausea and vomiting, but there are other changes that can happen during pregnancy that women may not expect,” says Dr. Robert Atlas of Mercy Baltimore, MD.
Some changes you won’t expect? According to Dr. Atlas, indigestion, heartburn, and even bloody noses are very common during pregnancy. All of the changes your body experiences will have a direct impact on your sleep health.
Sleeping While Pregnant: What to Expect
There’s a lot to prepare for when you’re pregnant! One of the best things you can do for your body is to get on a good sleeping schedule. Pregnant women need more sleep a night than non-pregnant people. At Coop Home Goods, we’re always thinking about how to effectively encourage everybody to get all 8 hours of sleep—this is especially important for pregnant women.
“According to the National Sleep Foundation, the amount of sleep necessary for good health varies by age. Between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each day is recommended at the age most women find themselves pregnant. (Genetics and quality of sleep can affect these numbers, but this is a good general guideline for how much shut-eye is needed.),” says Healthline.
It’s important to keep in mind the amount of sleep you’re getting from night to night. “If you find yourself routinely sleeping upwards of 9 to 10 hours straight and you’re getting good quality sleep, that might be a sign that you’re getting excessive sleep. However, if you’re up several times during the night or have disturbed sleep patterns, you may need to spend more time in bed resting than normal.”
Staying Hydrated is Key to a Healthy Pregnancy
You’ve probably heard by now that it’s super important for moms-to-be to drink water… a lot of water. “Every pregnant woman must stay hydrated by taking in water and other fluids that do not have adverse after-effects like drinks with caffeine,” says The Bragging Mommy.
However, you’ll want to cut off your fluid intake before bedtime, so as not to be making multiple trips to the bathroom during the night. “Consuming a large amount of water combined with the pressure from the fetus would result in constant need to visit the toilet, which reduces the sleep duration of a pregnant woman. To avoid this problem while carrying a baby, drink more during the day and less towards bedtime,” says OBGYN specialist, Dr. Karen.
You should also be prepared for accidents to happen! At Coop Home Goods, we understand that real life is full of accidents and inconveniences. That’s why we make products like our Ultra Luxe Waterproof Mattress Protector and our Incontinence Pad.
What Are Best Sleeping Positions for Pregnancy?
Now that we’ve covered the less pleasant side of pregnancy, let’s move on to our sleep tips!
You’ve probably wondered what the best way to sleep while pregnant? Well, the answer might surprise you! “For pregnant women, sleeping on the left may be comfortable, as it offers less compression of blood vessels and reduces reflux symptoms,” says Dr. Abhinav Singh, Medical Review Panel, SleepFoundation.org. Sleeping on the side also keeps your uterus off your liver, your body’s largest internal organ. The less pressure there, the better!
As important as it is for pregnant women to sleep on their left sides, it’s just as important for them not to sleep on their stomachs or backs because of the pressure the growing baby will put on the uterus and low back.
What If You Have Difficulty Falling Asleep While Pregnant?
By now you’re probably thinking, This is a lot of change! What if I have a hard time falling asleep? Fear not, there are a lot of things you can do, such as:
- Taking a warm bath
- Using essential oils for aromatherapy
- Practice deep breathing
- Lowering the room temperature
- Sleeping with a body pillow
If you’re having a particularly hard time falling asleep, there are also over-the-counter sleep aids that are safe for use during pregnancy. Just make sure not to use them every night, and to always consult your doctor before taking any medications!
How Pregnancy Pillows Can Help You Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Pillows are our passion here at Coop, and that includes pillows especially designed for pregnant women. Body pillows are perfect for pregnant women because they’ll help support your growing belly bump.
“A pregnancy pillow can reduce the strain on changing pressure points, fitting into all your nooks and crannies to prevent and reduce pain in those key areas,” says Very Well Family.
The Coop Home Goods Body Pillow works perfectly as a pregnancy pillow since you can adjust the level of fill. As your baby bump grows, you can add more fill to support more weight! By using our Body Pillow during pregnancy, you will be able to:
- Support your growing baby bump
- Reduce strain on your lower back and hips
- Keep your spine aligned
- Improve circulation
- Prevent yourself from turning over during sleep
In Conclusion
There are a lot of big changes that happen to your body while pregnant, one of the major changes being how you sleep! By getting enough sleep, hydrating properly, and sleeping on your left side with a Coop Home Goods Body Pillow, you’ll rest easy knowing you’re taking care of both yourself and your baby!