What type of pillow is best for pregnancy?
Pregnancy pillow, a must-have for pregnant women?
The pregnancy pillow, or nursing pillow, is one of the main purchases made by pregnant women. Let's find out what it is for and which one to choose.
Pregnancy pillow, nursing pillow or maternity pillow… what is this pillow widely recommended for pregnant women for? Is it essential for a peaceful pregnancy? And which one to choose? Here is some information and advice on the pregnancy pillow.
Pregnancy pillow, the pregnant woman’s pillow?
Pregnancy pillow, maternity pillow or nursing pillow
The pregnancy pillow can also be called a maternity pillow or a nursing pillow. This accessory, which has become a must-have in a few years, is very useful and can accompany the pregnant woman and then the young mother and her baby for many months. Some pregnant women only buy the pregnancy pillow for maternity, while this pillow can be very useful for relaxing or sleeping better towards the end of pregnancy. Other pregnant women do not see the use of it because they do not want to breastfeed their baby at birth. Again, this pillow is also very useful for the mother-to-be. The three names of the pregnancy pillow each correspond to different applications of the same pillow:
- The pregnancy pillow is intended for pregnant women to relieve their back and help them sleep.
- The maternity pillow is often requested by the maternity team to help you position yourself properly to hold your baby in your arms, give him a bottle or breastfeed him.
- The nursing pillow is often a useful aid for positioning baby correctly during feedings without damaging your back!
A cushion for at least 3 uses! And afterwards, the cushion can be used in other ways to extend its useful life, for example to make a protective barrier around the play mat, to wedge baby in his first moments of playing on the floor or even as a bolster when baby has grown up!
What is the difference between a nursing pillow and nursing pads?
Be careful not to confuse the nursing pillow with the nursing pads. The nursing pillow is used during feedings to properly position the baby for feedings without hurting your back. Nursing pads are small circles (disposable or washable) intended to be inserted into the bra of breastfeeding women to absorb small milk leaks between feedings.
The pregnancy pillow is not a pillow!
The pregnancy pillow is not at all shaped like a pillow and does not replace the pillow. It is more like a bolster curved into a V shape. It is often too thick to be placed under the neck instead of the pillow. But it can be used to support the pregnant woman during the day or night to relieve her back at the end of pregnancy, then during feedings or cuddles with baby.
How to use the pregnancy pillow?
The pregnancy pillow is mainly used at night by pregnant women, and often towards the end of pregnancy when the mother's belly starts to take up a lot of space! But it is also possible to use the pillow throughout the day, because there are many applications: propping yourself up on the sofa, relieving your back in an armchair, finding the best position to relax, etc. Pregnant women suffering from back pain are often the biggest users of the pregnancy pillow.
Once the baby is born, the pillow becomes essential to support him during breastfeeding or bottle feeding or simply during cuddles. With the pregnancy pillow, certain breastfeeding positions are easier to set up and put less strain on the mother's back. In addition, it is important that the baby is well positioned to avoid certain inconveniences such as cracks.
Why sleep with a pregnancy pillow?
At the end of pregnancy, the mother-to-be's belly takes up more and more space. Her back can also make her suffer. In addition, if the baby moves all night, the mother-to-be has bad nights and wakes up tired. With the pregnancy pillow, it is possible to find sleeping positions that relieve the back and belly.
How to sleep with a pregnancy pillow? The position to adopt
To sleep well with a pregnancy pillow, there are several possible positions. The most common is to roll up on the pregnancy pillow. The pillow passes between the arm and the head, along the stomach then between the two legs and the mother then sleeps on her side. For women used to sleeping on their side, using a pregnancy pillow is often essential to sleep well.
The pillow can also simply be passed under the legs to relieve the stretching of the stomach when lying on your back for sleeping.
The important thing is that each woman can find the position that suits her best. Asking the midwife for advice during the childbirth preparation sessions is also a good idea.
Which pregnancy pillow to choose? Where to buy it? The best pregnancy pillow
There are a multitude of pregnancy pillows. All the major brands and manufacturers have developed their models and it is sometimes difficult to find your way around, especially if the pregnancy pillow is purchased early in the pregnancy.
Beads or microbeads? Organic or not organic?
The range of pregnancy pillows is very wide. The most commonly used filling is synthetic microbeads. We also find classic cushion filling (Kapok) or even plant grains, such as spelt husks or organic millet husks. The filling is enclosed in a covering which is most often made of cotton (classic, organic and/or ethical). Synthetic coverings are rarer.
There is no padding or covering that is more recommended than another. It is up to each pregnant woman to make her own choice, based on her tastes, purchasing principles and budget.
With or without cover?
Some pregnancy pillows are sold without a cover, others with a cover . There are also covers purchased separately that can be fitted to the pregnancy pillow. The advantage of the cover is that it can be cleaned more easily in case of stains and to preserve the pregnancy pillow for longer. Remember, the pregnancy pillow will be used for many months, so it is best to preserve it from the start.
A little tip: bolster covers can fit most models of pregnancy pillows. They can save you an extra purchase and cover your pregnancy pillow to protect it from unfortunate stains.
The pregnancy pillow, which then becomes the maternity pillow and then the nursing pillow, is an essential accessory for pregnant women. One of the pieces of equipment to plan for as a priority to sleep well before the big day!
