The best position to sleep for a pregnant woman

The nine-month pregnancy journey is full of surprises.

It is a blessing and exciting time for the family as they are about to welcome the newest member. However, the journey has its own share of problems.

It leads to discomfort, especially while sleeping. The position in which you sleep during pregnancy is important for your baby.

With a growing baby bump, finding a comfortable sleeping position can be challenging.

Not finding a comfortable position to sleep can lead to a lack of sleep and thus increase your risk of complications, including preeclampsia (high blood pressure).

Getting adequate sleep during pregnancy is important for the development and growth of the baby.

Here is the best position for a pregnant woman to sleep in:

During the first trimester, it’s safe for a woman to sleep in whatever position she feels comfortable in. However, as women reach the second and third trimester, she has to be careful about sleeping positions.

As per experts, sleeping on the side (SOS) is the best sleeping position during pregnancy, as it provides you and your baby with good blood circulation.

As the baby grows, he/she becomes less comfortable inside the womb. This makes it less safe to sleep on the stomach and back. Thus, make sure to start sleeping in the side sleeping position.

The position also helps reduce the pressure on the veins and internal organs. Sleeping on the left side is also good as it increases the blood and nutrients, which reach the placenta and your baby. This boosts circulation and prevents swelling.

How can you make side sleeping position more comfortable:

1. Try to keep the legs and knees bend by putting a pillow in between the legs to decrease the stress on your back

2. People suffering from back pain cause try this position by placing a pillow under their abdomen for relief.

3. If you experience heartburn while sleeping, you can try upholding the upper body with the support of a pillow.

4. During the third semester, one can experience breathing issues. These can be avoided by lying on their side or taking the support of the pillow.

Two positions to be avoided while pregnant:

Sleeping on the stomach
During the early stage of pregnancy it is fine to sleep on the stomach but during the second and the third trimester, sleeping on your stomach can put extra pressure on the expanding uterus.

Sleeping on the back
The position is not safe to sleep in during pregnancy because it rests the entire weight of your growing uterus. Sleeping on the back can lead to back pain, breathing issues, indigestion, haemorrhoids and decrease blood circulation.