Pregnancy Body Pillows

Pregnancy is a time of wonder and great expectations.  You may wonder if you are having a girl or a boy.  You may dream of what your child is going to grow up to do.  Unfortunately, pregnancy is also full of discomforts that can sometimes make the pregnancy less than enjoyable. 

And because pregnancy is really such a short period that occurs over the span of a lifespan for women, it is something that we want to enjoy as much as possible.  This means knowing how to deal with some of the uncomfortable symptoms that occur during pregnancy.

There are a number of uncomfortable signs and symptoms that pregnant women experience including nausea and vomiting (normally called morning sickness), swelling, pelvic floor pain, heartburn, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, and back pain. 

Back pain or back discomfort can be problematic during pregnancy as it can sometimes start as early as the first trimester and continue on until the end of the pregnancy. 

The back discomfort that occurs early on in the pregnancy is generally due to the hormonal changes that result in making the bones and ligaments of your pelvis more lax. It helps to know that the pelvis is attached to your back (the vertebrae/spine).  The development of this laxity is all in preparation for the eventual birth of the baby that has to pass through your pelvis. 

As the pregnancy continues, however, the back discomfort or pain that occurs is also due to the weight of the baby and the changes of your stance and posture in response to your growing belly. 

There are a number of things that you can do to decrease some of the back pain such as avoiding high heels, doing stretches, and going for massages.  Because we spend about 1/3 of our time in bed sleeping (or we're supposed to be doing this), you also need to consider what position you are in when sleeping. 

This is where pregnancy body pillows can help you out.  They assist in reducing back pain by supporting your limbs in good positions and keep your spine better aligned. 

There are all different kinds of pregnancy body pillows.  Some are full-size, others are more like wedges that just support the belly.  Some can be used for support of your baby during breastfeeding after the birth.  Some provide back support. 

And the sooner you start reducing the back pain, the sooner you can begin enjoying your pregnancy to its fullest!