Advice For Pregnant Women - Sleeping Positions That Help You Get a Great Night's Sleep

There are many changes that face pregnant women. Sleeping positions may also need to be altered. In order to adapt to the correct sleeping positions it is probably best to start thinking about it early in pregnancy so that, when it becomes really necessary to be comfortable sleeping on the side, it feels more natural to do so.

Doctors do recommend the left lateral position as being best for both mother and baby. Oddly enough, many women find that this particular position feels the most natural position for them to lie in and often gravitate to that side, especially during later pregnancy.

Benefits Obtained

There are various benefits to sleeping on your side during pregnancy, one of which is that it prevents your legs, feet and hands from swelling up. This can occur when pressure is put on the inferior vena cava, interfering with blood returning to the heart from your lower extremities. Specific benefits are to be had for pregnant women when they sleep on their left sides.

There are various reasons for this, one of which is that your liver, which is a large and heavy organ, lies to the right side of your body. Lying on your left keeps the increasing weight of your growing uterus from pressing on this organ. There are also other benefits to lying on the left side during pregnancy: increased blood flow is able to reach the placenta without hindrance, ensuring the baby gets the maximum amount of nutrients available.

Maternity Pillow

It is notoriously difficult getting comfortable during the final trimester of pregnancy and, if you find a comfortable position to sleep it is often because you have managed to prop yourself up with a series of pillows. The most comfortable way for pregnant women to get a good night's sleep is probably with a full-length maternity pillow, specifically designed to be draped into the most appropriate position for optimal comfort.

With the right kind of maternity pillow you will probably find the kind of sleep you get is far more beneficial as you will not need to change positions so often to obtain a comfortable position. For pregnant women, sleeping positions that provide adequate support for your growing abdomen is essential, as are the benefits of sleeping on your left side as recommended by the medical profession. As such, you will find that a good quality and well-designed maternity pillow will reap dividends for you throughout your pregnancy.