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Orthopedic knee pillows designed for side sleepers are generally shaped like an hourglass, with curved indentations in which you rest your thighs.
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Tucking a pillow between your knees will keep your upper leg from slumping over on the lower one and twisting your spine. When you sleep on your side, your upper leg naturally pulls your spine out of alignment, which stresses your lower back and hips. Those who sleep on their sides are the most likely to need an orthopedic knee pillow – and they’re the ones the tool is most likely to help. Your preferred sleeping position is the most important factor in choosing an orthopedic knee pillow. When you lay on your back, the weight of the baby can cause pressure on the intestines and large blood vessels like the aorta.BestReviews Medical Expert Key considerations There are also ergonomic leg pillows and knee pillows that may provide some alternatives that can help.Īccording to the American Pregnancy Association, back sleeping can cause issues with decreased blood circulation to your baby and you, hemorrhoids and digestive problems, breathing and back pain. For those women who cannot sleep on their side, sleeping with a pillow under the knees and propping up the upper body, with pillows, or a specially designed wedge pillow system. In general, switching from side to side is best, placing an emphasis on the left side. The authors indicate in their study that 17 percent of low birth weight, and 26 percent of stillbirths, may be prevented by changing sleep position when pregnant.
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In fact, a June 2013 study in the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics indicates that pregnant women who sleep on their back are at increased risk for stillbirth and low birth weight. Body pillows can help make side sleeping more comfortable and healthy during pregnancy. This helps pregnant women stay healthier and reduce aches and pains, as well as being better for the baby. The best sleeping position for pregnancy is on the left side. This is known to decrease circulation to the baby as the uterus weight pressures the blood vessels, intestines, spine and back muscles, which also causes back pain during pregnancy, swelling and hemorrhoids. Body Pillows For PregnancyĪccording a March 2014 study in the journal of Early Human Development, most pregnant women sleep on their back. After delivery, they are also a great aid to a nursing mother as she holds and feeds her baby. Additionally, body pillows are often used by women during pregnancy, even helping in the delivery room for labor positioning. It is also great as a general body pillow providing comfort and better alignment.īody pillows offer excellent support for side sleepers along with chronic neck pain and back pain sufferers. We recommend the teardrop shaped body pillow which, has the benefit of assisting you in forming a new habit of not sleeping on your stomach and can be done in stages due to the shape of the pillow. If neither of these work, and you still have back pain, a body pillow may provide the best solution. If you wake up with soreness, you probably need a softer mattress. This should make the mattress less stiff. If you wake up with the normal back stiffness, try taking your mattress top off the box spring and using this on the floor. This should firm it up nicely and solve the problem. A great way to remedy this is either to get a new mattress, which can be very expensive, or to go to a hardware store and have them cut a piece of half inch plywood the size of your mattress, and have it placed under your mattress. If you wake up without your usual morning stiffness, it is probably because your mattress is too soft. You can try using some blankets underneath you while you spend a night sleeping on the floor.
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Often, we think it is the mattress that causes the problem, however, there is a simple solution to determine this. This can prove beneficial in preventing joint and muscle problems which lead to waking with back stiffness. Orthopedic Body Pillow Best Price Order Now From Amazonīy helping to keep your legs aligned with your lower back and pelvis, body pillows can also help relieve pressure and strain on the hips, knees and ankles while you sleep.
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