Wondering whether it’s safe to sleep in a recliner during pregnancy? This article covers all you need to know.
During pregnancy, sleeping in your bed may cause a lot of discomfort to you. A recliner may be your next best option to get a good night’s rest.
The question of whether sleeping on a recliner is safe for pregnant mothers is common. WebMD confirmed that reclining chairs are safe for pregnant women to sleep in. Women may find relief from aches and pains in their joints and gastrointestinal discomfort.
I’ll explain why it’s safe to sleep in your recliner. Stick around to learn more
Pregnancy Sleeplessness
The increased hormonal changes associated with pregnancy may make finding comfort and falling asleep more difficult.
Hormonal changes are the leading cause of sleep irregularities in pregnant women. These changes in hormone levels cause significant physical discomfort during sleep.
And contribute to other pregnancy-related symptoms like increased body temperature, insomnia, shortness of breath, vomiting, and increased heart rate.
When you add a bed into the mix, you may be tossing and turning all night long, despite your best efforts to prop yourself up with as many pillows as possible.
Recliners are an excellent idea to solve this pregnancy sleeplessness, but you should ensure you don’t lie flat in your recliner.
Pregnant women should avoid sleeping on their backs because the baby’s weight can compress the Inferior Vena Cava (IVC), a major blood vessel responsible for returning blood to the heart.
If the IVC is unable to return blood to the heart, the heart will not have adequate blood to pump back out to the body and the baby.
It’s safe to sleep in a recliner as long as you’re not completely flat, but if you are, you risk compressing your inferior vena cava.
However, the Cleveland Clinic noted in a research they did that women could safely sleep on their backs during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
But, once a woman reaches the end of her second trimester, she should never lie completely flat in a recliner. Also, women should not worry if they must sleep temporarily on their backs at night.
Sleeping in a Recliner
Please use the right equipment, such as using proper pillows and placing them in the right spots when sleeping. Also, seek complementary therapies like acupuncture, engage in appropriate physical activity regularly, and receive massages to alleviate back pain.
If you suffer from heartburn or reflux, try eating less spicy food, eating smaller meals more frequently, and drinking more water and less caffeine. Sleeping in an elevated position in your recliner, taking antacids like Tums, or both, can alleviate heartburn symptoms.
Women typically have poor sleep quality for the duration of their pregnancies. Even if they don’t have heartburn or acid reflux, pregnant women still have trouble finding a good sleeping position. To avoid this, pregnant women should try to sleep on their sides rather than their backs.
Pregnant women significantly benefit from adequate rest. Family Doctor noted that the risk of preeclampsia in later pregnancy is nearly ten times higher in women who got less than five hours of sleep per night during the first trimester.
Furthermore, their research found that expecting mothers who got less than six hours of sleep per night were more likely to have to give birth via cesarean section.
Both of these factors emphasize the importance of regular sleep during pregnancy. Sleep is precious during pregnancy. So, if it can be found in a recliner, get a good night’s rest there.
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Advantages to using recliners while pregnant
Several recliner retailers are offering a wide selection of recliners. However, picking out a comfortable recliner is no small matter when you’re expecting.
Recliners come in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and weights. However, the most comfortable recliners for expectant mothers are padded and sturdy and have a bit wider width.
Some of the essential advantages of using recliners are that they relieve back pain in women by forcing them to lie flat on their backs, improving their posture.
Mood swings are a common symptom of pregnancy in women. Recliners are ideal for pregnant women because they allow a comfortable, uninterrupted nap.
Safety measures for pregnant women using recliners:
- Throw some pillows behind and to the side: Although the belly needs high protection during pregnancy, recliners provide that protection. Pillows at the side and back help you sleep soundly without worrying about falling on your back.
- Tilt the chair back: A pregnant woman’s back will hurt if she lays flat. It’s not a good idea to fully recline the chair in a recliner. Changing how you lay in it while sleeping makes all the difference. The guiding principle is to unwind and enjoy the chair’s cushy feel.
FAQS
How far can you recline while pregnant?
You’ll be alright if you’re not lying flat on your back. Even if you can maintain a 20- to 30-degree angle, that will alleviate any potential pressure that may be placed on your inferior vena cava. But, ideally maintain a 45-degree angle.
What sitting positions to avoid during pregnancy?
You shouldn’t incline your head in any direction—forward, backward, or sideways. Check to see that the lobes of your ears are aligned with the center of your shoulders. Maintain a backward tilt in your shoulder blades while thrusting your chest forward. Also maintain a straight knee position, but do not lock your knees.
Is it ok to sleep sitting up in a recliner?
There should be no risk associated with sleeping upright on a recliner. But, deep-vein thrombosis, which can occur if the arms or legs are bent, and you’re unmoving for hours, may be more likely to develop. Those who stay immobile in an airplane seat for extended periods are always susceptible to this.
What are the disadvantages of sleeping in a recliner?
When you spend the night in a chair, your legs will be bent at the knees and hips. This can, over time, cause tightness in your hips, hamstrings, and calves, and it may also hurt your posture. Your risk of falling may also be increased if your muscles are tight.
When should I stop bending during pregnancy?
Even when you are well into the third trimester of your pregnancy, leaning over should not put your unborn child at risk. Yet, it is highly likely that you will find it progressively more difficult, if not impossible, for you to do so. In addition to the rest of your body putting on more weight, your stomach is getting bigger.
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