A woman needs sleep the most when she is conceiving a baby. Unfortunately, with a developing child inside her womb, a comfortable rest would be difficult to enjoy. Thus, pregnancy pillows were invented to provide the necessary comfort as she sleeps through the duration of the pregnancy.

According to health experts, the best position for a pregnant woman to sleep would be on her side. This position allows the circulation of blood in her body to be unobstructed. Sleeping sideways will also prevent the baby dwelling in her womb to press on the mother’s liver while she sleeps. And more importantly, with the additional weight in the mother’s midsection, the spine, particularly on the lower back portion, could be misaligned or stressed if the pregnant mother decides to sleep on her back. This will lead to back pains that the mother will have to endure for a long time.

The conventional solution of pregnant women seeking relief from this ordeal would be propping themselves up using a number of pillows. The pillows are positioned to support every part of the body that needs support and it usually works. But conventional pillows, together with the bed, usually aren’t ergonomically sound and may lead to the wrong position of the person’s appendage during sleep that it could lead to a sore muscle or a stiff neck in the morning. It would be an inconvenience especially for a pregnant woman to wake with additional soreness in her body even after long hours of sleep.

Because of these, pregnancy pillows were conceptualized. Of course, there are various kinds of pregnancy pillows. The simplest one is a long, sausage shaped pillow as long as a king sized bed. This is a great pillow to provide comfort for the whole body as well as something to hug. The problem with this is that, it only supports the belly but not the back.

The newer versions of the pregnancy pillows support not only the belly but every part of the body that requires support. They would support the neck, the shoulders, the knees, the belly and the back. This way, you could be sure that during the whole nine months of pregnancy, especially the third trimester, every inch of the body could feel comfort and ease during sleep.

As was said, these new designs of pregnancy pillows are ergonomically designed therefore the shape is far from simply being a long bolster. The shapes vary from a U shaped bolster, a shape of a kidney bean and some irregular and asymmetric shapes. These shapes allows the pillow to snug the body to provide maximum comfort. To top it off, some pillows are made of memory foam, so the relief provided by the pillow is much better than the comfort provided by conventional pillows.

One of the many things that are considered when purchasing a pregnancy pillow is what to do with it after the pregnancy. Well, just because it’s called a pregnancy pillow doesn’t mean you can only use it when your pregnant. The comfort it provides to women is the same whether she’s pregnant or not. That is the purpose of having an ergonomically sound design. It should be comfortable to use and should support your body.

Pregnancy pillows could also be used as a nursing pillow. It could support not only the mother but also the baby. This way, both mother and child are supported and positioned properly by the pregnancy pillow.

A knee pillow is a something that you could put between your knees, to keep them apart. By keeping the knees apart, the knee of the top leg will not be strained and will be aligned with the hips. This will prevent any sore to be felt on the joints.

Knee pillows are usually made with polyurethane foam either rectangular in shape or shaped like an hour glass. The rectangular shaped knee pillow are difficult to keep in place and would usually have a velcro strap so it would stay in position with your leg while the hour glass shaped knee pillow is more stable because it has trenches on both sides where you could place your legs in.

Knee pillows are cheap luxury products. They are very affordable but you don’t necessarily need to own or use knee pillows sold in the market. In fact, you could use a normal pillow as a knee pillow.

In South East Asia, China and Japan, it is customary to have an extra pillow to hug and keep the knees apart. It comes in different names but function the same way. Aside from having something to hug when you sleep, it also provides comfort by letting you maintain the correct posture by having your knees align with your hips.

Knee pillows would be a great companion in your sleep but as we said, it is a luxury more than a necessity. Even a normal or ordinary pillow could work as a knee pillow so you don’t have to spend so much on something you could replace with something cheaper.

But if you have the money to spare and you want an ergonomically designed pillow to support your knees, hips and back, then knee pillows would certainly be a great product for you.

At first, I thought that pillow inserts are only filled with either cotton, feathers or polyurethane. Apparently, there are more materials that could be used to fill it either to make it softer, more ergonomically sound or simply just to be eco friendly.

The softest of all materials that could be used to fill pillow inserts would be downs. These are the soft feathers of birds. You could find them under their wings. These downs are used by birds and fowls as thermal insulators and padding. This is the most expensive filler for feather pillows and it is understandable since downs are proven to be the best in terms of comfort and softness.

Variants of down pillows are not dependent on the type of down used but rather the amount of down used to fill a pillow or the ratio if the pillow has other fillers. A pillow that contains a hundred per cent down is the most expensive feather pillow available.

The most ergonomic material that can be used to fill a pillow insert would be the memory foam. It’s a NASA developed technology that performs really well in terms of taking the shape or following the contours of the shape of any thing that presses on it.

Memory foam is the best material to be used for pillows with orthopedic purposes such as the neck support pillows, pregnancy pillows and knee pillows.

Cotton, is one of the most common and probably the most eco-friendly. Cotton doesn’t require cruelty to animals and it doesn’t make use of chemicals. It’s all natural cotton from cotton trees and are one of the best materials to provide comfort and softness.

There are other materials as well that could be used like polyester, and other synthetic materials. But if you’re looking for real quality comfort, the three mentioned above would be the best.

Traditionally, pillow inserts are merely things you use to rest your head on when you sleep or rest but today, features are added to them and pillows are no longer simply inserts. There are sound pillow inserts that has a built in speakers in the pillows and pillow inserts with cooling pads. There might be other features added but definitely these added features are to provide not only additional comfort but also increase and improve the quality of life.

When a woman becomes pregnant, a lot of things in her body would experience change. The most obvious would be the enlargement of her belly and the increase of her weight. With the gradual enlargement of her belly, a conceiving woman’s weight displacement changes that and it will require an adjustment to her posture. This will cause a stress on her lower back and neck leading to back pains and shoulder pains. With the growth of the baby in her womb, her abdominal muscles weaken which makes it difficult for her to tuck her stomach in when standing and thus, will contribute to the pains she feels.

All these would lead to the discomfort of the wife and there’s not much that anyone can do to relieve her of the burden she has to go through everyday for the whole maternity period. What can be done however is to provide comfort for her during sleep by allowing her to sleep in a more comfortable posture.

To achieve this, she should sleep in the most comfortable position where blood circulation in her body is least obstructed. Also, all the stress points of her body during this period should be supported to prevent soreness of the muscles. The important areas in her body that needs to be supported are her knees, belly, back and neck.

By propping pillows on these areas, support for her body could be provided. But pillows could lose their position and may not be as snug as she wants them to be. So, what could be done is using maternity pillows.

Maternity pillows come in different sizes and shapes with ergonomic designs that could help support the stress points and delicate parts of a pregnant woman’s body. This would be the ultimate source of comfort for w woman during her pregnancy and such a product would be advisable for her use.

In terms of postures, there are proper postures that a woman should have while standing, reclining, on her side or lying on her back. Listed below are the proper postures that she should have:

When Standing:

• Don’t lean forward, this will cause a strain on your neck. Keep your chin up as much as possible

• Try not to sway your hips as much. This will cause lower back pains

• Don’t wear heels, it will cause a shift in weight forward and might cause you to lose your balance.

• Keep your head straight

When Sitting Down:

• Don’t slouch, this will obstruct circulation

• Don’t cross your legs, this will also obstruct circulation

• Keep your knees level with your hips to avoid stress on your lower back

• Sit with the whole leg supported by the chair

When on your side:

• Support your uterus by putting a pillow under it

• Support your back as well with a pillow

• You’re head should obviously have a pillow that should support the neck as well

• A pillow between the knees to support the top knee and to avoid obstruction of circulation

When on your back:

• Elevate your head by propping a pillow under it

• Place a pillow under your knees to keep it bent. This will make your pelvis tilt as well as keep your back straight.

Considering all these postures should be enough to cause stress to a pregnant woman. But with the help of maternity pillows, there shouldn’t be much discomfort plus she could feel at least a bit more convenient with just having only one pillow to adjust and move every time she changes position.

But, reading right before you sleep, although it might be a lifetime habit or routine, could lead to some discomfort. I’m sure that most of us would rather read on our beds than pull up a chair and read a book on study tables. And I’m sure that when you do, you’d prop up pillows so you could lean on them or else you’d feel some ache on your lower back and neck a few minutes after starting reading.

It’s a discomfort that we usually don’t pay much attention to. Maybe it’s because we have been doing it for so long that we have learned to ignore how sore our backs and necks are or perhaps it because we have learned to shift positions when our backs starts aching. But, whether we have learned to take the pain or have learned to shift and provide temporary relief from the soreness, the fact still remains that we do experience and feel soreness because of the posture we take when reading on the bed.

Even with pillows propped under you, it still won’t prevent the pain from seeping in. Pillows change shape eventually, and when they do, the support it gives you when you started reading is no longer the same. Plus, the pillow can’t exactly support your whole spine and that’s the reason why our backs and necks get stressed, thus, the pain.

But we don’t have to endure this burden without having to change our habit of reading in bed. By using a Reading pillow, we could enjoy comfort reading books, studying or even watching TV in bed. With these items, your back could be supported by a soft cushion while you sit on the bed.

There are various kinds and designs of reading pillows. There are wedge type reading pillows. They simply look like pillows which you could wedge between your back and your head board. This is one of the more practical items since it’s not as bulky and you could use it when you sleep as well.

There are bed lounge type reading pillows as well. These reading pillows look like the back rest of cars seats. You could wedge it between your back and the head board as well when you use it. What’s interesting about this type of reading pillow is that your back is not the only one that is supported. Some bed lounge reading pillow designs would have a head rest as well as arm rests. IT would be really beneficial to have one of these if you like reading. The only problem with this one is that bed lounge reading pillows are bulky. You could encounter problems in terms of storage, but other than that, this would be a great reading pillow.

There are other types as well, but they look more like normal throw pillows and bolsters that have no special features in their designs.

These pillows are just for the convenience of bookworms. It’s not a necessity but if you had one, you’ll definitely not regret it.

If you find yourself waking in the morning with a painful stiff neck, then maybe you need a neck support pillow. Neck support pillows are interesting items with a very simple and practical concept behind its purpose.

When we sleep, we rest our heads on the pillow to keep or maintain the correct posture for our body. The problem is that our heads will be supported by the pillow but our necks won’t because of the difference in the width of the head and the neck. What happens is that our necks are strained during sleep and because of this strain, we experience soreness when new wake up.

The solution to this problem could be determined simply by common sense. We can prop and squeeze our pillows in such a way that when we rest our heads our neck is also supported by the pillow. This could work, but there is a small problem. The pillow, no matter how much you punch it or push it or squeeze it to take a particular shape, will go back to its original shape. Therefore, what pillow manufacturers have done is create a pillow that’s ergonomically designed to support both the head and the neck.

There are various designs with this kind of pillow as well. There is a design where the pillow has a canal or trench or a valley that spans the length or the bed. The head is placed in the valley while the neck is supported as well. There are pillows that look like a butterfly that allots a space for the shoulder and arm when the person sleeps. There are even designs here the support for the neck is embossed on the pillow and shaped like a U or a V.

These are just sample descriptions of the available neck support pillows in the market. I’m sure there are more of them out with more interesting and more ergonomic designs. Even the material that fills the pillow differ from one design to another.

Most of the pillows available have cushions made of cotton. This is the most common material used and should be effective in providing comfort when supporting your neck. My favorite material would be the memory foam. Since its memory foam, the pillow should be able to, not only support the head and the neck, but also follow the contour of the person’s head and neck. Although the pillow is already pre-shaped Using memory foam adds to the comfort and softness that the user will experience with the neck support pillow.

This type of pillow is something that a lot of people will appreciate. A lot of us, especially during times of stress will feel that strain on our necks and shoulders. With something like this neck support pillow, we would enjoy a good night’s rest and a stress free neck when we wake up.

Chillow Pillows are designed to provide comfort to the user by providing a cool pillow to sleep on. The problem with ordinary pillows is that when the pillow starts absorbing the heat from the head, the pillow becomes just as warm as the head sleeping on it. This could cause sweating and discomfort.

This is exactly what Chillow Pillows are made for. By having a cooler pillow, the person sleeping doesn’t have to suffer with the warm pillow he or she is sleeping on. But more than keeping you from sweating, Chillows have other useful uses as well. If you have a fever, the pillow could act as a cold compress and lower your temperature simply by resting your head on it. It could even relieve you of hang overs, simply by using Chillow Pillows. And because of these functions, we find that Chillow Pillows are magnificent items that you can use.

Chillows are vinyl bags with coolants inside it. To activate the coolant after purchase, all you need to do is pour two quarts of water in the bag. After that, the pillow is set to use. You could insert it in the pillow case together with the pillow, this way when you sleep, your head will be resting on the chillow and have it cooled.

How it works is simple, the chillow displaces the temperature between your head and the coolant. By replacing the heat in your head with the coolness from the chillow, your head won’t sweat as much when you sleep, especially during hot and warm nights. Without creating noise or using electricity, the chillow pillow could give you a pleasant night’s sleep.

But, like we said, the chillow pillow has some kinks that require attention. First of all, since it’s made of vinyl, it has that plastic smell. Plastic smells are difficult to get off. So, if you are not the type of person that likes to sleep something that smells like (and feels like) plastic, this pillow isn’t for you.

Chillows are also heavy. Since water is required to activate the pillow, it follows that the insides of the pillow will be wet or jelly like, and it will be heavy. Since it is heavy, moving it would be difficult, so if you want to change your sleeping position, you’ll have to adjust to the position of the pillow. Also, it would be inadvisable to have an infant or a toddler who can’t lift the pillow use it. Just in case there might be an accident that would cause the pillow to suffocate the child, it would be best not to let the child use something this heavy.

In terms of hygiene, there is a huge consideration that must must be looked at. Water is required to activate the coolant in the chillow. This means that it would be wet, and since the bag is made of vinyl, and it is air tight sealed, there is a huge chance that molds could grow in the chillow.

Just be careful that you don’t let the chillow tear or leak, because the mold could leak as well. It is advisable though that you add chemicals that would prevent the growth of molds and other unwanted organisms.

Chillow Pillow is a promisng product, but there are just some details that should be addressed, corrected or modified.

It’s fun and it feels free to be on the floor doing fun stuff. Unfortunately, in terms of comfort, the floor doesn’t provide much of it. Floors are flat, hard surfaces that won’t adjust to the shape of your body. And because it doesn’t bend or follow the shape of your body, your weight is focused only on the areas or part of your body that makes contact on the floor’s surface. What this entails is discomfort and stress on the person’s body, specifically the lower back.

Games don’t end quick and video games end longer, and the longer you sit on the floor, the more stress there will be on your back. To avoid the pain from seeping in because of the wrong posture and the improper weight distribution, it is highly suggested that you use either chair a cushion or at least sit on a floor pillow.

With a floor pillow, you will be seated more comfortably and you will experience less stress on your spine. Your posture could also be more proper since you don’t have to endure the hard floor anymore.

There are various types of floor pillows available out there. There are cotton pillows, foam pillows and bean bags. Each of these have their own characteristics and depending on your need or preference, one of these would be the best type of floor pillow for you. They come in different colors and shapes as well. There are square floor pillows, round floor pillows, and huge, chair like bean bags and more.

With these bean bags, playing, hanging out and even spending holidays would be fun not only for kids but anyone who likes to join in the fun. Floor pillows, although it is more of a luxury than a need would be something that you’d end up loving having in your home.

]]> http://www.pregnancypillow.com.au/floor-pillows/feed http://www.pregnancypillow.com.au/travel-neck-pillow http://www.pregnancypillow.com.au/travel-neck-pillow#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:24:48 +0000 admin http://www.pregnancypillow.com.au/?p=20 Heavy traffic, long distance travel and overnight drives are stressful. It not only consumes a lot of our energy but also causes muscle pains. The most common victim of these situations would be our neck and shoulders, especially if you are the one driving. During these situations, it would be best to take a travel neck pillow with you whenever you leave and travel out of town.

When you are traveling and you fall asleep in the plane or even in the bus, your head, which is heavier than it looks, will find anything to lean on. I’m, sure you’ve experienced leaning on the bus window, or you’d probably adjust your back rest one inch lower so you could rest your head on the back rest of the seat next to you, or the most common experience would be to rest on the shoulder of the guy next to you. Whichever it is that you’ve done, one thing is certain when you wake up, your neck and shoulders would hurt.

Since the head is heavy, the neck is being strained too much even if you leaned it on the bus window. What you need is a support for your neck that will help carry the weight of your head as well as reduce the strain or stretch when leaning.

Travel neck pillows does just that. They support the neck and the head so that it won’t be strained too much and avoid soreness of the neck and shoulders. It helps you keep your head in place and prevent the twisting of the neck which will ultimately cause a painful stiff neck.

Stiff necks take away the fun of vacation and sometimes hinder productivity because of the pain you feel. To prevent this, travel neck pillows are highly advised, especially for travels that take more than three hours to drive or fly.

Travel neck pillows are cheap and they are not too bulky or heavy. For something that would provide comfort, this item is actually very convenient and easy to use. It’s shaped as a U or a horseshoe so all you need to do is surround your neck with the pillow and rest your head on the back rest. It’s that simple yet the benefits are great.

Just like all products, travel neck pillows come in different shapes colors and materials. But what is more interesting about the variants of travel neck pillows is the variation of materials that fills the pillow. Obviously there are pillows filled with cotton, and there are those with foam and/or memory foam as well. But, the most interesting one are the travel neck pillows with filled with air.

With inflatable travel neck pillows, you could easily take it along with you and stuff it in your bag without it taking too much space. Inflating and deflating it would be easy as well as storage. This type of travel neck pillow would definitely be useful for those long flights and drives.

Travel neck pillows are great items to have. With this, you’d probably still complain about heavy traffic and about being late, but at least, you could lean your head without straining your neck and shoulders while waiting for the much awaited green light.

Different people would prefer different sleeping positions. Some are required to have odd sleeping postures to specific conditions which, although that particular position is supposed to provide more comfort for the person, may lead to even more stress. An example of this sleeping position would be the face down sleeping position.

This is difficult to achieve since ordinary pillows will not allow the users to sleep in that posture. There is no way for the person to breather properly and normally when lying face down. But there is a solution now to this dilemma and it is none other than the face down pillow. It’s a special pillow with a very simple concept and looks very effective.

Face down pillows are usually inclined pillows with a gap or hole on the upper part to allow the user to rest his or her face in that gap, thus allowing the person to breathe while lying face down. The inclination’s purpose is to support the body and to keep the posture in it’s proper position, as well as to allow the elevation of the face from the surface of the bed.

There are different designs and makes of face down pillows. There are foam pillows, simple inclined pillows, pillows that follow the contour of the person’s torso, and face down pillows with compartments for little objects that the user might want to put in there.

What’s more interesting about these face down pillows is that they aren’t necessarily for correcting sleeping positions alone, or for merely allowing people to sleep face down; this pillow could also be used when you are getting a massage.

To keep you from resting your head facing one direction, which prohibits the masseuse to properly massage your neck, face down pillows allow you to rest your head properly giving the masseuse access to your nape.

Also, face down pillows could also be used for tanning and sun bathing. If you want an even tan on your back, this could be a great accessory for you to use. It allows you to comfortably lie face down letting the whole of your back get the tan you like.

Whatever purpose you wish to use it for, face down pillows are great accessories that you could use to allow you rest and lie comfortably facing down.