Body Pillows
Just when you thought pillows are solely for head support, think again. The new generation pillows don't just consider supporting the head and neck but also the entire body.
New studies found out the correlation between sleeping position and a good posture – not to mention that a good pillow should be able to help you achieve quite a rejuvenating sleep to waking up refreshed. More so, pregnant women (especially at the third trimester of pregnancy) and people who like sleeping on their sides, experience discomfort in this position.
With this fact, bedding manufacturers came up with an idea to create body pillows. Body pillows typically measure 20" wide and 54" long, and keeps the shoulders and hips maintain a 90-degree angle. At this angle, the spine is kept in its natural position aligned with the head and neck. This innovation in pillows was greatly welcomed by physical therapists, chiropractors, backbone specialists, and orthopedists for its therapeutic benefits.
Pregnancy body pillows or maternity pillows are a type of body pillows contoured to provide comfort for because pregnancy brings its share of discomfort due to the build up of weight and mass. Any pregnant woman can tell that what was formerly a very comfortable position such as lying on back can be the opposite when you have a swelling belly.
On the other hand, the baby's weight can pull your side down when lying on it, which can feel so uncomfortable. In addition, back pressure is quite common in pregnancy and the only way to relieve it is to get pressure from your back somehow. Maternity body pillows are carefully designed to provide support to the growing belly and the lower back as well.
Pregnancy body pillows are available in different designs to give moms-to-be other options. There are body pillows of this type with adjustable Velcro pad and two support cushion at the sides. This design allows pregnant women to move the pad to whichever is a comfortable position.
Body pillows are made typically to conform to the position of the entire body, providing support wherever it is needed. Propping body pillows against the back can help align your spine and reduce lower back pain. It's also important especially for pregnant women to place a pillow between the knees to eliminate any pressure around the hips or pelvic area. Additionally, hugging a body pillow can help lessen the stress on the shoulders and elbows when on a side position.
Body pillow fillers are usually soft materials that allow the pillows to be reshaped when propped up regularly. Mostly, the filling materials consist of down feathers, cotton or synthetic that are soft enough for comfort but dense enough to provide support. Other types of body pillows such as bean body pillows or veggie body pillows are filled with cottony fibers of Kapok seedpods (a tree native of South America), making them environmentally safe.
Taking care of body pillows is not as difficult as it sounds, too. Although this type of pillow is somewhat bulky, most of them can be cleaned in a washing machine. However, should this task be tedious, body pillows cases are sold everywhere in the market in bright colors and patterns. Just change you body pillow cover when it's time to and you're setting a new tone for your room.
People normally use pillows for comfort when asleep and provide support on the head and neck. Body pillows, on the other hand, are created to alleviate any symptoms of strain in the entire body, a fact that makes this type of pillow special and a great help when you want to improve sleep.
In the long run, the bedding you choose will have positive impacts on your sleep. But this is not to say that pillows are the only accessories you need to have a sound sleep. Of course, the best way to find out about your chronic sleeping problem is to consult a physician who is specialist in this field. Other than that, you might as well find a pillow that conforms to your sleeping idiosyncrasy and not you conforming to them.