If there’s one material item that every pregnant woman needs, it’s a pregnancy pillow. This huge cuddly pillow supports the changing contours of her body and makes it possible to get a comfortable night’s sleep, free of back pain and heat.
But what do you do with the pillow once the baby comes and your belly is not big anymore? Well, you’ll be surprised to find out that most moms use the pregnancy pillow after birth more than they did while pregnant. If you are currently loving your pillow and wondering how you will part with it after the pregnancy, read on to learn its new uses.
Use the Pregnancy Pillow for Sleep after Giving Birth
The primary use of a pregnancy pillow is to support the side sleeping position recommended during pregnancy. Unfortunately for some, you will need to maintain this sleeping position even after giving birth because of the heavy milk-filled breasts and back pain. Wrapping the pillow around you supports your back, stomach, belly, head and hands so you can get some much-needed sleep.
When you place one tongue of the pillow between your legs, it helps align your body, alleviating some of the back pain so many new moms go through. Giving birth is no small feat, and your body still needs a lot of support when sleeping, so you shouldn’t be too quick to get rid of the maternity pillow. Unlike regular pillows, a pregnancy pillow is very malleable and you can manipulate it around your body as you like until you get that comfortable position.
Use Your Pregnancy Pillow for Breastfeeding
Many moms consider a nursing pillow a must-have item, and with good reasons. It helps to elevate the baby, so you can breastfeed comfortably without hunching over, and also gives your arms some relief. But if you already have a pregnancy pillow, you don’t actually need a nursing pillow.
A pregnancy pillow will serve the same purpose of supporting and elevating the baby so you can be comfortable. What’s more, it goes around your body and supports your back and shoulders so you can sit upright instead of reclining. This posture alleviates back and shoulder pain and allows you to bond with your baby while breastfeeding because you are comfortable.
Some moms use a pregnancy pillow and a nursing pillow together to maximize support. However, you can get an all-in-one like this Bamibi Baby Nursing Pillow for Breastfeeding & Maternity Body Pillow. It’s a multi-purpose pillow that adapts with you from pregnancy and takes you all through the first year after birth. Instead of using two pillows, it has a small baby insert that goes in the middle of the pillow to raise the baby, so the rest of the pillow can support you.
Use Pregnancy Pillow for Tummy Time
Tummy time is crucial for helping babies build muscle strength in their shoulders, back and neck. It is this strength that kids use to get up, crawl, sit and even pick things up with their hands. Tummy time also supports motor and sensory development of your child, which is why doctors recommend you start it the moment the baby gets home.
As you can imagine, the best place to do tummy time is across mom’s lap because any soft surface like a bed or couch exposes them to suffocation, or the baby will just sleep. Unfortunately, a mom’s lap is not so comfortable, which explains why babies hate tummy time.
A pregnancy pillow provides a more comfortable surface to lay on, but it’s not too soft to stop being effective. Place it nicely on your lap, and then lay the baby on top with the head outside of the pillow support. Be sure to still keep a firm hold on the baby though because they can turn and fall.
Use Pregnancy Pillow for Back Support When Sitting
Again, a mom’s body needs a lot of support after giving birth, especially if they suffer from back pain, however minor. We have found the Bamibi Baby Nursing Pillow to be extremely handy on car rides. You can use the bigger pillow to support your neck, shoulders and head and take a nap as you travel, and place the small insert in the small of your back for support.
Choose a pillow with a removable cover so you can take it off when dirty and throw it in the wash. This pillow will work with air travel or trains too.
Speaking of back support, you can also place the pillow behind you when sitting up either in bed or on the couch reading or watching a movie. If you already have a nursing pillow, let the pregnancy one support your back and shoulders for comfort and good posture.
Final Words
Just because you’re not pregnant anymore doesn’t mean you have to give up your new friend. If you’ve gotten used to sleeping with the pregnancy pillow, by all means continue doing so until you are ready to let it go. That might be never, especially if you are a side sleeper, and that is okay too.
