Since you are pregnant, your body almost feels foreign to you and you have a bunch of additional problems that cause you, among other things, pregnancy insomnia. For example, finding a comfortable position to sleep.
Sleeping on the stomach
Until the 2nd trimester, your belly does not yet take up much space and should not bother you too much. In fact, it is not uncommon for your pregnancy not to be visible until your 4th month if this is your first child.
You may be preventing yourself from sleeping on your stomach for fear of hurting the baby, but don’t panic: the fetus is comfortably installed in weightlessness in the amniotic fluid and the pressures it perceives are very low. You can therefore sleep on your stomach without any problem, and as long as it is not uncomfortable for you. However, you may quickly feel uncomfortable with yourself — some women realize they are pregnant precisely because sleeping on the stomach suddenly becomes uncomfortable.
Sleeping on the back
You may also have difficulty sleeping on your back. It is reputed to be the most advantageous position for good blood circulation... but only if you are not pregnant!
As your pregnancy progresses, your uterus grows and puts pressure on your bladder and blood vessels. Because of this, you may quickly experience a sensation of discomfort or choking. However, if you do not feel any symptoms, sleep on your back without worrying further: you can also elevate your feet on a cushion for more comfort.
From the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, it is probably no longer possible for you to sleep on your back. In fact, a 2006 American study conducted on women from 29 to 38 weeks of gestation shows that the pressure this position exerts on the abdomen decreases blood flow to the uterus. So this position should be avoided if you feel discomfort as soon as you lie down.
Sleeping on the right side
Sleeping on the right side is likely to press on your inferior vena cava. The vena cava is a large vein slightly to the right of the body, in front of the spine. Obstructing it can be a source of discomfort, but contrary to what is thought, pressing on the vena cava will not affect the blood flow to your baby.
Sleeping on the left side
Young mothers are often advised to sleep on the left side, because this position improves blood circulation and breathing. It’s true! In any case, it improves them compared to positions on the back or on the right side. When in doubt, and if you are comfortable, sleep on the left side.
Sleeping three-quarters
If you are the original type and nothing suits you, try this in-between position.
It is very useful to have a maternity pillow, which will help support your head more easily. It can also be useful later if you choose to breastfeed. Keep one leg bent and one leg straight with a cushion or pillow between your thighs to allow good blood circulation and relieve muscle tension and your joints, which are tired from carrying your baby all day.
For more comfort, do not hesitate to take lots of pillows and place them wherever you want: under your arms, under your belly, in your back (to avoid rolling during the night), with an ergonomic pillow under your head or several normal pillows to ensure your neck is well supported.
If you have hip pain (pelvic pain is common in pregnant women), you can also try putting a layer of soft foam on your mattress.
Listen to your body above all
Even if you can read 1001 studies on the advantages and disadvantages of each sleeping position, don’t confuse yourself at the expense of the signs your body sends you. If you are lying in the wrong position, you will feel it immediately: either because you feel discomfort, lightheadedness, back and hip pain, or because your baby will give you little kicks until it is floating in the amniotic fluid in the position that suits it.
It’s good to change position several times during the night, but don’t stress if you don’t move much. It is very common to sleep poorly during pregnancy, and it is much more important for a future mother to sleep well rather than waking up 10 times a night to reposition herself using a cabalistic protocol that could influence a hypothetical and microscopic advantage of her pregnancy...
Only your own feeling will give you the true key to comfort!
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