Growing a human is no easy feat. If you’re more tired than normal, you’re not alone. This exhaustion is your body’s way of telling you it needs rest. If sleep is essential for healthy functioning in a regular body, just imagine how crucial it is for a body that’s growing a baby! With this in mind, we want to talk to you about not only why sleep is so important but also how to get the sleep you need so much.
Why Sleep is so Essential During Pregnancy
To say that being pregnant is pretty uncomfortable would be quite an understatement. By the time you reach your third trimester, it’s difficult to walk, get dressed, eat, shave your legs, and yes- even sleep. While it may be easy to shrug and say “I’m huge! There’s nothing I can do about that!” you should know that not only can you do something about it, but you really should.
Sleep is incredibly important to everyone’s health and wellness, and even more so during pregnancy. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, not getting enough sleep during pregnancy puts you at a higher risk for dangerous pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. Lack of sleep is also associated with longer labors and higher rates of C-sections.
Sleep Essentials During Pregnancy
Sleep during your pregnancy is incredibly important. Your body is hard at work right now! As your body grows, sleep becomes a little harder to come by, though, especially in the third trimester. The best position to sleep in when you are later in your pregnancy is on your left side. Sleeping on your side promotes blood circulation, something that’s extremely important for pregnant women. Improved blood flow means more nutrients flowing to your baby and less swelling for you. If you’ve been a stomach or back sleeper, it can be hard to adjust to sleeping on your side. Even if you’re used to sleeping on your side, it can become uncomfortable with your growing belly. This is where a pillow made especially for pregnant women helps.
Eating a healthy diet, exercising, and avoiding screens before bed can go a long way to getting a good night of sleep, and a good pillow or two doesn’t hurt either. Pregnancy pillows allow you to be comfortable enough to actually sleep well. As your body weight increases during your pregnancy, it puts a lot of pressure on your legs, hips, and back. These body parts need to be rested after supporting you all day, but this is hard to do if you can’t sleep well.
Here at City Mattress, we sell a few different options for pregnancy pillows. One of our favorites is the Malouf Wrap Around Pillow. This C shaped pregnancy pillow fits the natural contours of your body to provide support and relieve sleep pain. It's ergonomically designed to wrap around your body and support your head, neck, back, hips, and belly. The breathable Tencel™ cover aids in obtaining the perfect sleeping temperature. Also by Malouf, the Horseshoe Body Pillow is another fantastic option. This is a U shaped pregnancy pillow which wraps both sides of the body to offer support. It is filled with a soft down alternative that is hypoallergenic and won't shift or clump.
It’s worth noting that the best pregnancy pillow in the world won’t help you achieve the healthy sleep you need if you’re on an old, lumpy, or poorly-made mattress. Because sleep is so essential during pregnancy, a high-quality mattress is too. You need a new mattress that is supportive and comfortable. We encourage you to focus on a mattress that offers your body the spinal alignment you need to reduce back pain and other joint aches. You have enough to worry about right now without a mattress slumping in a way that bows your back in the wrong direction!
Don’t forget about your sheets! Many pregnant women find themselves with sudden hot flashes, either from gaining weight, racing hormones, or a combination of the two. When looking for bedding essentials, be sure to consider moisture-wicking bamboo sheets made especially to keep you comfortable at night. If you’re really struggling to stay cool, you can always add the I Love My Pillow Out Cold Copper Gel-Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper.
Bedroom Essentials to Consider Afterwards
Sorry to say it, but your focus on sleep doesn’t end with your pregnancy. In fact, once the new baby comes it’s pretty likely that all you will think about is wanting to sleep. Did you know that on average, a newborn wakes up at least three times a night? This is usually to feed. After a few nights of nursing hunched over, your shoulders, back, and neck are going to be seriously sore. That’s why we recommend getting an adjustable bed base now, so you have it ready to go once your little bundle of joy arrives.
An adjustable bed base is ideal for nursing mothers, because it props you up enough to hold your baby in the correct position, while also giving you something comfortable to rest on. Otherwise, you’ll spend valuable minutes piling up pillows while the baby is crying and you are leaking!
If you’re pregnant and having trouble sleeping, we highly encourage you to visit your nearest City Mattress and discuss your options for a better sleep system with one of our Sleep Experts. You may need a more supportive mattress, cooler bed sheets, a pregnancy pillow, or even an adjustable bed base. Whatever you want and need, you can get it through City Mattress!