Marjolein has written a Guest Blog about Best sleeping position during your pregnancy. Happy reading!

In my search for a good, comfortable Belly pillow I came across the Bellydrop from All about Stov. In my practice, I use a small, pregnancy pillow from Australia and I often get asked by women where I bought it. In order not to incur costs for everyone and to order the Denton pillow all the way Down Under, I went looking for an alternative close by. 

The Bellydrop is a small, nice, supportive pillow that you can use during the growth of your belly. It is a natural product, chemical-free and sustainable. The designer and owner of All about Stov - Marjolein and I share the same mission to help as many moms-to-be as possible to have a comfortable pregnancy. We think it's important that you don't forget yourself as a pregnant woman. You deserve all the attention! This includes a good night's sleep, so you can enjoy a relaxed pregnancy.

Best sleeping position during your pregnancy

What are good and safe sleeping positions during your pregnancy? When you're pregnant, finding a good sleeping position can be tricky. The first three months of your pregnancy are often not a problem. You can still lie on your stomach, back or side. But when your belly starts to grow, sleeping on your stomach is no longer so pleasant. When you lie on your side, you may need support for your abdomen or pelvis. In this guest blog, Marjolein from All about Stov describes the best sleeping positions and which pregnancy pillows are available to sleep well.

Comfortable sleeping position pregnancy

First of all, try out different sleeping positions yourself, so that you can feel which sleeping position is comfortable for you. To do this, take some cushions from the couch to see if they can support your body. When you are normally a stomach sleeper, this will be the hardest part. After the 30th week, you can no longer sleep on your stomach, but for most women, this position will no longer feel comfortable long before that.

Sleeping on your stomach, side or back

There are sleeping positions that carry a little more risk when you are pregnant. The safest sleeping position when you are pregnant is on your left side. This increases the blood supply to the placenta. Sleeping on your stomach is not dangerous for your baby. Your baby is protected by the amniotic fluid. Sleeping on your back from the third trimester onwards poses small risks for you and your baby, research has shown. It is possible that the blood supply is cut off when you sleep on your back. This is because the weight of your baby and uterus will start to press on your blood vessels at some point. As a result, your baby can receive less oxygen and nutrients. This can lead to a temporary drop in your baby's heart rate. However, the chance that it will lead to problems is very small.

Sleeping with a pregnancy pillow

Just like a good mattress, sleeping with a pregnancy pillow can be a solution to find a comfortable sleeping position. Sleeping with a pregnancy pillow can prevent or reduce pain in your pelvis or back. The support ensures a natural sleeping position and keeps your pelvis and spine in balance.

What pregnancy pillows are there?

Shape and Size

Pregnancy pillows come in a number of shapes, from large to small. Cushions that you can completely or that you only put between your legs and under your belly. The most well-known pillow is the large nursing pillow, a pillow in the shape of a large sausage (C-shape or U-shape) . There are pregnant women who sleep wonderfully with this throughout their pregnancy. You can use this pillow as a nursing pillow and baby nest after giving birth. But there are also pregnant women who can't find their way with such a large nursing pillow in bed. Especially if you often turn over at night or if you want to snuggle up to your partner. With such a large pillow, you have a barrier that you don't move so easily and it feels like your entire bed is full of pillows. If you also find this annoying, it is better to choose a small pillow. You can easily take a small pillow with you when turning around and your belly or pelvis are pleasantly supported.

Pregnancy pillow filling

In addition to the shape and size, there is often also a difference in filling. Some pillows have a natural filling that wicks away sweat well and therefore feels cooler than pillows with a synthetic filling. This is especially pleasant in the summer.

Which pregnancy pillow is right for you?

Which pregnancy pillow is right for you depends on a few things;

• Are you someone who often runs at night? And how much space do you want to leave in bed? This is different for each person. It may be that you sleep better with 1 large pregnancy pillow or with 1 or 2 small(er). You will automatically feel what you need. Maybe you can borrow a pregnancy pillow from someone so you can try it out. And try using an extra pillow or try how it feels when you put small cushions from the couch under your stomach or between your knees.

• Pregnant stomach sleepers; Many stomach sleepers need support under the abdomen as soon as they can no longer lie on their stomach. They lack a certain pressure when they lie on their side. A small pregnancy pillow such as the Bellydrop helps with this. This gives a counter pressure so that you still have the feeling that you are on your own belly. Or the bigger your belly, the more you can have the idea that your belly is sinking into the mattress. A pillow under your belly gives your belly nice support and therefore peace. In this way, your belly can also recover from the weight of your growing belly at night.

• Painful pelvis after sleeping; For your pelvis, a pillow between your knees is nice. Because this ensures a natural and relaxed posture of your pelvis. This can also ensure that you don't suffer from a sore pelvis, or if you already have pain you can reduce it by sleeping with a pillow between your knees. A smaller pillow is also suitable for this.

I sell the Bellydrop in my practice.