SLEEP MATTERS WHILE PREGNANT Pregnancy is a magical experience but it does come with its fair share of unexpected changes both physically and in your daily routine. Sleep is just one of the things that can be affected. The first trimester The little life inside you has only just made itself known and yet for some reason you're so exhausted. All that you've read says you wont be sleeping much in the first year your child is born, so it seems a little unfair that you're not able to sleep now either. At such an important time in your baby's growth it's crucial you're rested and healthy. Ensuring you don't drink too many fluids close to your bedtime is beneficial, as is exercising early on in the day. What is particularly important though, is taking a regularly planned afternoon nap. Ensuring that you have a properly supportive mattress for this is a must. In this article we'll take a look at the best options to guarantee you a restful sleep throughout pregnancy. How to sleep If you're a stomach sleeper make the most of this position whilst you can, as soon your growing belly will make it impossible.
It's generally recommended that you sleep on your left hand side as this position helps blood and nutrients to flow to your baby and womb and helps your kidneys get rid of waste and fluids. THE SECOND TRIMESTER At this stage your body has become more accustomed to being pregnant, but there are still certain issues. Heartburn as the baby leans on the stomach can be aggravated as you lie down, and leg cramps and vivid dreams can all disrupt your sleep. Eating lighter foods towards the end of the day, avoiding spicy foods and staying upright for a few hours after eating can help to ease some of the heartburn that you're suffering from. At this stage in your pregnancy the pressure of your baby's weight in your body may be making you feel uncomfortable and the only way to relieve this is by having the best possible support. A soft mattress is recommended to take some of the strain away from your body and permit you a restful sleep. As you enter the most intensive stage of your pregnancy it's time to start considering improving your sleep environment.
Softer bedding and supportive cushions are purchases that you'll be grateful for in the future. Memory foam mattresses can be beneficial as they contour to your body, providing support where needed. explore our mattresses for pregnancy Flaxby Natures Finest Elite Natural Mattress Flaxby Natures Finest 3000 Essence Natural Mattress TheraPur Mellow 20 Mattress - Medium TEMPUR Cloud Deluxe 27 Mattress - Medium This is a polyurethane material which is very sensitive is pressure and temperature, it moulds to the shape of the body to provide fantastic support. Many foam mattresses can be hot, but Tempur have a cool layer to maintain optimum body temperature throughout the night. High Density Foam Base The bottom layer is a thick layer of supportive foam that acts as a base for the whole mattress. fixing your nightly issues As you enter the most intensive stage of your pregnancy it's time to start considering improving your sleep environment. Our memory foam mattresses contour to the curves in your body to completely support you and our stock of pillows, in a range of materials, are suitable for propping between limbs for true comfort.
The third trimester The end of your pregnancy often means waking up multiple times in the night but right now is when you need it most for a safe and easy labour. Lower back pain may now begin to aggravate you as a heavy baby weighs on your spine. You may find that you and your partner have very different sleep requirements at this stage in pregnancy and getting out of bed can be a particularly strenuous activity. Adjustable beds with individual settings allow you to get comfortable at any angle and also help to propel yourself from your mattress. HOW TO SLEEP To take stress off your lower back and increase circulation to your baby try to sleep on your left side. Pillows between knees, behind your back and under a heavy stomach will ease discomfort, as will frequent stretching. During this life-changing process it's crucial that your sleep isn't hampered in any way. Following our helpful solutions should relieve some of the sleeping problems commonly associated with pregnancy.
However it's important to be aware of the effect your mattress may be having on your sleep at this time, too. Making sure you and your baby are properly supported is the only certain way to achieve essential rest.Error 404 Not Found. The page you were looking for seems to have been moved, had its name changed or is just temporary unavailable. A report about this has been sent to us and we will make sure it doesn't happen again, we promise! Here's what you can do next: Browse the discussion boards Start a new discussion Sleep and Pregnancy: Questions About Heartburn, Drugs, Resting Comfortably, and MoreMemory Toppers Versus Egg-Crate Foam Pads Health Concerns Mattress pad retailers and manufacturers say their toppers can cure a wide range of sleep problems (insomnia, backpain, joint aches, etc). No mattress foam pad can cure these problems but what they can do is help prevent bedsores, bring some pain relief and increase comfort during sleep. This, however, doesn't apply to everyone as we're all different and require sleeping surfaces suited to each and every one of us.
But first, here's what you must know about home mattress trials and what makes a good foam mattress. Topper Recommendations from Doctors Many customer say in reviews that memory foam pads have helped them with apnea, fibromyalgia, insomnia as well as back and hip pain. There are no solid studies to back up these claims which is why doctors reserve judgment and many choose not to recommend memory foam mattress toppers as medical treatment. This doesn't mean that they don't work, it just means scientific proof is yet to be found that they do. Egg crate foam toppers, on the other hand, have been known to receive more endorsement from doctors, especially since many hospitals use this type of pad for recently operated patients. Some doctors even suggest that patients take the egg-crate mattress topper home and continue sleeping on it after being discharged from hospital. The convoluted shape of these foam toppers can prevent and help heal skin ulcers, eliminate bedsores, reduce pressure points, allow air to flow and prevent your body from becoming too hot during sleep (fever is notoriously dangerous for recently operated patients).
Low quality egg crate pads, on the other hand, may be dangerous as they are a source of toxic formaldehyde transmissions. These two types of mattress pads work differently in offering support and comfort. Support is one of the major criteria when buying the right sleeping surface. Visco memory foam toppers provide proper support as long as they are the high-density type, are layered over a firm, flat mattress and is the heat-sensitive type. Egg crate pads, unlike memory toppers, cannot, on their own, offer proper support since they are very light and thin at the dips. It all depends on the kind of mattress they are placed on. The foam pad will offer necessary support and proper neck and spine alignment if placed on top of a firm mattress. Health care specialists say that to be labeled as providing pressure relief, a mattress has to have the pressure of 32mmHg or lower, whereas pressure reduction performance is agreed to occur between 32mmHg and 50mmHg. Good quality visco memory foam toppers like Tempur-Pedic overlays were shown to reduce average pressure to around 15 mmHg from nearly 30 mmHg.
We couldn't find any numbers related to the pressure exerted by an eggcrate mattress pad on the body, but considering its shape and doctor-endorsements, we believe that these toppers do relieve pressure points. Allergy And Topper Choice Just like there are no allergy-free mattresses, there are no regular allergy-free pads (except for the ones manufactured especially for people suffering from allergies). Since egg crate mattress pads are also made of foam, they are just as prone to host dust mites as memory foam toppers are, even though foam is generally not a source of food in itself. The only way to keep dust mites out from your mattress topper, be it the memory foam or egg crate type, is to use dust-mite resistant encasings and covers. When I laid on it, I couldn't imagine anyone wanting memory foam. Once on it, I could barely move and turning over was a real challenge. I also could see how this could get very warm at night. The mattress was firm and soft at the same time (as advertised), and we woke up with our backs feeling all springy and stretched out.
We did notice that the temperature of the bed was warmer than with our old mattress, but taking off one layer of blanket solved that problem. We also could let the house get colder in the winter nights which might save energy, though to be honest, we didn't track it. My wife now sleeps through the entire night. It did not heal her back, it just provides great support to assist her in obtaining a good night's sleep. The material forms/molds to the body like a parent holding an infant child. I tried an egg crate mattress recently with my 9 mo. because she refluxes and has a hard time sleeping. I thought it might help her. Authenticity TestHow can you check if your purchase as good as a true Tempur-Pedic bed? You can try the wine glass test, the egg test, or the fridge test. Top Memory Foam ComplaintThe most commonly reported problem consumers have with memory foam mattresses is that they sleep hotter when compared to conventional sleeping surfaces. 3.5 lb vs 5 lbWhich to choose from a 3.5lb foam overlays versus 5lb Tempur-Pedic bed overlay comparison?