Sleeping while Pregnant

If anyone had told me that one of the most difficult things about being pregnant would be "sleeping". I would laugh out loud and down a glass of wine, in that exact order of-course. In my first trimester I had no nausea or morning sickness and that was an absolute blessing for me. But as soon as I started moving towards the second trimester being able to sleep comfortably started to become a problem for me and I'm sure for many other expecting moms too.

I started being inundated with advice and tips from friends and family about the popular “SOS” position (sleep on side). Now this was tough for me, as I really enjoy sleeping on either my back or my stomach neither of the two options is recommended. Experts recommend pregnant women avoid sleeping on their backs during the second and third trimesters. Why? The back sleep position rests the entire weight of the growing uterus and baby on your back, your intestines and your vena cava, the main vein that carries blood back to the heart from your lower body. This pressure can aggravate backaches and hemorrhoids and make digestion less efficient, interfere with circulation, and possibly cause hypotension (low blood pressure), which can make you dizzy. Less-than-optimal circulation can also reduce blood flow to the fetus, giving your baby less oxygen and nutrients. But don't worry if you wake up and find that you've rolled onto your back overnight, just roll back on your side. Its best to just avoid sleeping on your back position during pregnancy for prolonged periods of time. The best side to sleep on your left side which will increase the amount of blood and nutrients that reach the placenta and your baby. Keep your legs and knees bent, and put a pillow between your legs if you need that added support. But if this is not your usual way of sleeping it can be quiet a struggle and it will for sure be uncomfortable when you're in need of that much needed shut eye.

During such a crucial and important time having the correct mattress for your body will definitely help a lot too. When shopping for the perfect mattress you will find yourself bombarded with various options, you might even be tempted to go for the cheapest available but my best advice would be don't. Buying a mattress is a long term investment and doing a bit of research before you commit is possibly the best thing to do. 

3 things to consider before purchasing a Mattress

Support:
It is of utmost importance that the mattress you decide to buy provides your body with optimal support. It would need to provide support to your spine which will prevent future health issues that may occur as a result of poor support such as body aches & poor posture. You need to decide if you prefer Memory Foam or a Spring mattress support.

Firmness:
Memory foam mattress will contour to the shape of your body and move the weight accordingly by providing support where it is needed. The firmness of  the Spring mattress however will change over time due to wear and tear. It might lose firmness as time passes. 

Cost: 
Spring mattresses are usually cheaper than memory foam mattresses. Memory foam tend to be more expensive since it's more durable and seen as a long term investment.

With that being said if you are looking for a great mattress I can definitely recommend a Sealy. Every Sealy mattress is the pinnacle of years of ingenuity and research. While expecting and needing to prioritize getting a good nights rest before the baby arrives I cannot stress enough the importance of a good quality mattress.

Sealy continued their quest for the world to sleep better by introducing:

• Sealy Posturepedic mattress
• Being the first mattress company to display and advertise a king-sized bed
• Creating an Orthopaedic Advisory Board
• Reinventing the innerspring coil and the box spring
• Patenting a variety of groundbreaking technologies, including Posture Channels and Pressure Relief Inlays designed to relieve pressure points that cause tossing and turning.

And the achievements in sleep technology continue to this day.  Sealy is No.1 consumer choice and are unwavering in our vision to help you sleep better.

Did you know? 

South Africa produced its first mattress at its factory in Johannesburg in 1967.