Does Your Sleeping Position Affect Your Pregnancy?
When you are pregnant, you experience many changes that affect your body. One of the biggest is your sleeping position.
During pregnancy, it can be difficult to sleep. It can be difficult to know how to lie down. Your diet and your relationships with others can also be reflected in how you sleep.
Before getting pregnant, most women are used to sleeping in a special position. However, some of these, such as lying on your back or stomach, are not recommended during pregnancy.
It can be very difficult to find a comfortable position during pregnancy, especially if you are used to sleeping on your stomach and you now have to change habits because your stomach is in the way.
If you have always slept on your back, you should also change position. It can help you avoid problems with your back and internal organs given the extra weight you now carry.
We sleep to recharge the batteries, but finding the right sleeping position to get some rest can be very tricky when you are pregnant.
This is why it is so common for pregnant women to have difficulty sleeping. Some people can barely get any sleep at all, due to the size of the stomach and the sensitivity of the breasts. An abrupt change in how you sleep can also be difficult. But it is not impossible.
Is there a proper sleeping position for pregnant women?
Specialists recommend pregnant women to sleep lying on their left side. It facilitates blood flow. To stabilize the body, you can put a pillow between your legs.
This position is perceived as promoting blood circulation and thus guarantees the supply of nutrients to the uterus and the baby. It also ensures the right amount of oxygen to the fetus and promotes the elimination of slag products and fluid via the kidneys.
It also helps reduce swelling in the feet and ankles, a condition that is common during pregnancy. It prevents varicose veins or hernias and relieves constipation which can be a problem for some women.
You can start getting used to your new sleeping position already during the first three-month period so it will be easier during pregnancy.
Most importantly, a study from the University of Auckland in New Zealand shows that women who do not sleep on the left side are at greater risk of fetal death. Even if the risks are very small, it is good to be aware of them.
Sleeping on your right side has consequences
According to various studies , sleeping on the right side can have several negative consequences for your organs. Let’s take a look at how it can affect different parts of your body.
- The vena cava: the largest blood vessel in the body runs through the right side of the body and carries a large amount of blood. If you sleep on your left side, avoid exposing it to pressure. It ensures a good blood flow to the placenta and allows oxygen to circulate in the body.
- Liver: This important organ is located on the right side of your abdomen. For this reason , you avoid creating pressure from the uterus on the liver if you choose to sleep on the left side.
Your sleeping position affects how well you sleep
It can be difficult to sleep during the last weeks of pregnancy. But with the help of a lot of pillows, you should be able to get some rest. If you suffer from constipation, it can be beneficial to sleep with your upper body upright. For this reason, pillows and cushions are the key to your rest at this stage.
A firm mattress with a slight incline and enough indulgence just to accommodate your spine curves will allow you to sleep better. A very hard mattress or sleeping on the floor is as dangerous as a very soft one; it causes your spine to collapse completely without any support at all. Your mattress should not be hollowed out in the middle but should support your entire spine.
Recommendations that improve sleep during pregnancy
- Do not use too many blankets to keep you warm
- Use triangular pillows
- Make sure your bladder is empty when you go to bed
- Reduce fluid intake at dinner
- Have dinner three hours before you go to bed
- Avoid drinking coffee
