How to use a pregnancy pillow

Pregnancy pillows come is all sorts of shapes and sizes. There are U, J and C shaped pillows and also full length, wedge and the inflatable pillows.

These are very essential because they ease body pain for better sleep and they also improve your blood circulation throughout your pregnancy. Even post-delivery, some of them come in handy so you don’t need to toss them away after giving birth.

To be honest, each pillow has its own perks. Here are some facts about the different types available in the market and some of the benefits you can derive from using these pregnancy pillows.

These basically come in two designs. They come in a firm full-length pillow and the flexible type. They are referred to as full length pillows because they are long and they are meant to cover the entire length of your body. It relieves pressure from your belly and legs especially.

Place the pillow in front of you and wrap your arms and legs around it as you adjust yourself into a comfortable position. These pillows are great but they don’t provide enough back support.

They are smaller, more compact and portable pregnancy pillows. They’re used to target specific areas for support rather than cover your entire body. These pillows have a raised area and a lower side which you can alternate depending on what feels comfortable at the time. You can place it below the belly, in between the knees or even on your back for some extra support.

This pillow is shaped like the letter U. It’s one of the most popular pillows because it supports your entire body including your back. Invert the U pillow so that the curve is at the top. And place your head on that curve then wrap your legs around the pillow. Repeat the same if you want to face the opposite side.

The C-shaped pillow is also a great option because it provides some back, neck and leg support. You’re supposed to position your back into the curve then place your head on the top part of the pillow. Then, place the lower hook between both knees.

This type of pillow is great for the third trimester. During this time, there’s a lot of pressure on your back and belly. On top of that, body aches can make it hard to find a comfortable position to sleep in. Inflatable pillows come with an in built space for your bump so that you can comfortably sleep on your belly.

J pillows provide support in many ways. You can invert the J, place your back on the support, rest your head on the hook and place the lower part of the pillow between both legs to ease the pressure. Or, turn the other side so that your back is facing away from the support while you rest your neck on the hook and wrap your legs around the pillow. The other position is to turn so that it resembles an L and place a pillow of your choice at the top while you wrap your legs around the pillow.

When selecting a pillow, pay attention to the size of the pillow, the material and how firm it is. The best pillow is one that’s not too firm or too soft.