How to Use a Maternity Pillow

Most doctors now recommend that pregnant women lie on their sides when they sleep. This position increases the flow of oxygen to the child as well as helps to facilitate the bodies normal sleep protection, including circulation and the expulsion of waste. However, sleeping on your side when you have an extra 25 to 55 pounds on your stomach can cause uncomfortable strain and pressure to the hips, back and neck. A maternity pillow or pregnancy body pillow is a great way to help alleviate the pain of sleeping while pregnant and promote the healthy sleeping style recommended by doctors. With all the new types of body and maternity pillows on the market, however, it’s hard to figure out exactly what you do with all those wedge and bean-shaped devices.

Things You'll Need

• Body pillow
• Wedge maternity pillow
• The Bean
• The Snoogle
• Bed

Instructions

1. Start using your body pillow early. Many women will begin to use their new body pillow around the 15th week, but in order to allow your body to adjust to this new sleep position and to grow the habit with the pregnancy, it is recommended that you begin to use your pillow as soon as you discover you are pregnant.

2. Learn the proper placement. Maternity pillows were created to help alleviate the pain and stress caused to your spine, back, shoulder, neck and hips during pregnancy, so it is important to get the correct placement in order to receive all the benefits. The best way to tell if your using it correctly is your own personal comfort level. Try a few different positions until you find the spot that alleviates your pain.

3. Use the body pillow. A full sized body pillow is simply a long pillow and should be placed in a backwards S-shape starting under your neck, following your spine and finishing under your side where it will cradle and support your stomach. You may also tuck the tail end of the pillow between your legs for additional hip support. The Snoozer and The Bean kapok Pillow are glorified body pillows designed for pregnant women.

4. Try the wedge. There are two types of maternity pillows that are called a wedge. One is an L-shaped device that provides support to your spine, back and stomach. You place the tall side of the wedge along your spine and the short side slides under your belly. The other type of wedge looks similar to a chunk of cheese and is used to support the belly. Slide the pointed side under your belly and push the wedge under you until your stomach is in the desired and most comfortable position.

5. Experiment with the Snoogle. While everyday body pillows will usually suffice, there are new products available that are specifically designed for pregnancy. The Snoogle is just one of these products. It is a full body pillow, similar to the traditional body pillow, but it is shaped like the letter ‘C’ which makes it simple and easy to place. The Snoogle goes under your neck, along the back of your spine and between your legs. Additionally, you may place the Snoogle under your belly and then down between your legs as well.

6. Use the Bean. This is a pillow deigned using two bean-shaped pillows that are attached by a thin adjustable pad. One pillow sits along your spine to support your back, while the other sits along your front to support your belly. To use the bean, you simply lay on the pad between the two pillows. You can adjust the size of the cradle to what’s most comfortable for you, by moving the center pad.

7. Choose the Dream Genii. This maternity support pillow is made with a long tubular front and a small support pillow back that is attached together by thin fabric. The long tube sits along your belly and is tucked between your legs, while the back pillow supports your back and prevents you front turning onto your back during the night. To use the Dream Genii, you simply lay between the two pillows and tuck the end of the tube between your legs.