Maternity Pillows
Pregnancy is such a special period for any woman who has gone through it. It is a time of anxiety, frustration, and excitement altogether. The physical aspects can have a bearing on how a woman copes with the changes brought about by pregnancy especially when she enters the third trimester and up to giving birth.
What used to be a comfortable lying position for the pre-pregnant body may be difficult to achieve at this time because the baby's weight will exert a pressure on the lower back and other organs.
Thus, lying on the side is the best option. However, this too, can seem uncomfortable without the proper cushions for supporting the head, neck, hips and knees. Mothers-to-be don't need to take all the pressures, literally. Maternity pillows are now sold in various joints and flooding online retail stores recently. Maternity pillows also come as maternity body pillows that give overall support on entire body including the belly of a pregnant woman.
Maternity pillows, mostly, have Velcro pads in between attached to two appendage cushions. It may also be in the shape of a large rectangle, a crescent, or a long cylinder. The rectangular kind can be used in a couple of ways: under the back to support the lower back (which takes most of the weight during pregnancy) and under the hips when lying sideways with the length extending outwards to cushion the abdomen.
The crescent type maternity pillow cushions the abdomen while the hips lay directly on the mattress. If a pregnant woman intends to breastfeed soon after giving birth, the crescent-shaped maternity pillow can likewise serve as a breastfeeding-pillow to support the elbow and shoulders while holding the baby. The mother positions herself inside the arch to get the maximum support.
The cylindrical pillow, meanwhile, has the shape of and is used most often like a body pillow. The pillow's entire length extends through the sides to cushion the weight of belly at the same time easing the pressure around the pelvis, lower back, and knees when the pillow is placed between the legs.
Maternity pillows and maternity body pillows are generally filled with soft or flexible material to give out optimum comfort. Fillers often include down feathers, cotton, or synthetic beads that provides the effects of a beanbag. These materials were often found to bring forth the most comfort, and are sufficiently dense to provide firm support.
A comfortable sleeping position is of vital importance for pregnant women to get a sound sleep. While sleep is important for everybody, pregnant women need it most to support the growth of the unborn child. Having a pillow that absorbs the weight of the belly and can have great impact in alleviating the physical discomforts associated with pregnancy. A sound sleep also helps improve the physical, mental, and emotional health of expectant women.
Maternity pillow prices can range between $20 to over $100 depending on the size, type, and brand. The most expensive are down maternity body pillows that contour to the body shape of pregnant women, providing support on the back and belly.
One of the most affordable maternity pillows is the Sealy Sweet Pea maternity Pillow, which is only $20. Pregnant and nursing mothers can benefit from the contoured shape and softness of this pillow that gives optimal comfort when side-sleeping. The pillow feels great when placed between the knees to ease lower back and hip pressures.
This maternity pillow remains quite useful after giving birth and during breastfeeding since it can serve as an armrest. The fiber is firm enough to support the elbows plus the 230-count cotton fiber will feel smooth on the skin of the mother and would not hurt the newborn.
Pregnancy is never an easy time no matter how many times a woman has been pregnant. What loved ones can do is to provide emotional support and care for the expectant woman. For support other than that – try maternity pillows. They will even work for you.