The nursing pillow during pregnancy
Lying down can be uncomfortable during pregnancy and can affect the quality of your sleep. The nursing pillow is ideal for relieving tension in the stomach and back muscles.
The nursing pillow helps you sleep well
If you sleep on your side, you can slide one end of the cushion between your legs, pull it under your tummy and rest your head on the other end. This effectively supports your belly, especially in late pregnancy, and prevents muscle tension. Your whole body is aligned and more relaxed. This is the most common use of the nursing pillow during pregnancy. You can also use it to support your spine in this position.
If you want to sleep on your back or take a relaxation break, slide the curved part of your pillow behind your neck and leave the ends along your shoulders and arms. This relieves pressure on your cervical vertebrae and shoulder blades, which are often the cause of back strain. In addition, it helps to alleviate any problems with acid reflux.
Women who usually sleep on their stomachs but are afraid to do so while pregnant finally have a solution. By positioning the nursing pillow in an arc, with the curve under the breast, the stomach is raised and the pressure against the bed is reduced.
The nursing pillow relieves your pain
Pregnancy can sometimes mean heavy legs. Your nursing pillow can help here too. Slide it under your calves to raise them or even under your thighs, as high as possible. This way your baby will naturally move up into the uterus and put less pressure on the cervix, which is a great advantage at the end of pregnancy or if you have to stay in bed. It also relieves strain on the lumbar vertebrae, straightens your pelvis and relaxes all your back muscles.
The nursing pillow after the birth
Even after the arrival of your baby, the nursing pillow is still an essential nursing accessory. You can place it in front of your belly, with the ends around your waist, and put your baby on it to breastfeed or bottle-feed. Your baby will be perfectly supported and your arms will be relieved.
From birth, the cushion can be placed in a circle to create a comfortable and reassuring cocoon for an infant. As your baby grows up, when he or she can sit up, the cushion can be placed in the middle of the cushion, like a chair, to support the back and waist.
How to choose the right nursing pillow?
Some manufacturers offer 2 sizes of cushions, the longer one being recommended for mothers-to-be over 1m65. The difference is minimal and most women prefer to opt for the larger, more versatile model, whatever their size. This is the one used by midwives and in maternity wards.
The cushion should be malleable, but firm. Microbeads are preferred for the filling: they provide perfect support without the risk of sagging, are light, odourless and hypoallergenic.
Make sure that the cushion has a removable cover and that the cover is machine washable. In maternity wards, breastfeeding cushions are made of waterproof fabric, which is easier to disinfect, but a cotton cover is much more comfortable and pleasant to the touch. And why not personalise it by having your baby's name embroidered on it?