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C is for Can Sleep!

Last pregnancy, I told a friend of mine who had been through the whole preggers thing already about my difficulties sleeping.

I, being a back sleeper, found trying to stay sleeping on my side a major issue. I tended to flip over on my back anyway and woke up who knows how long later feeling guilty for squashing my innards and major blood vessels with the weight of my fetal sumo wrestler and uterine contents. It also felt uncomfortable yet I continued to gravitate onto my back.

I knew that it was recommended to not sleep on your back during the second half of pregnancy due to the possibility of impaired circulation to the mother's body (the squashing of the inferior vena cava, the large vein that drains the lower half of the body), as well as to the placenta. I heard warnings of low blood pressure, of lower extremity swelling, backache, hemorrhoids, of all kinds of badness.

And in general, sleeping was getting awkward with my growing belly flapping in the wind with any of my position changes. I was not a happy camper.

This friend, this AWESOME friend, sent me 2 things. 1) A small wedge-shaped pillow to stick underneath my burgeoning belly, and 2) A large body pillow made specifically for pregnant mamas. (Did I mention how great this friend is?)

I just recently dug out my Snoogle body pillow from storage and I'm seriously not sure how I could sleep during survive my pregnancy without it.

There's lots of different ways to use it, but what works for me is to have it in the shape of a "C", where one end is under my head and the other between my legs. The rest of the pillow supports me all along my back which not only feels snuggly but prevents me from my natural tendency to turn over onto my back.

It makes pregnancy sleeping a non-nightmare.

The removable cover is washable - hooray! - and it comes in a plastic protective case which is perfect for storage. Note: I recently removed the cover and washed it, but sticking it back in generated more than a few drops of sweat on my part, but I am also abnormally sweat-prone.

The only drawback is that this pillow is huge and it's like having a third person sharing our bed. Albeit a very squishy, silent person.

Impression: The Mack Daddy of Pillows.

_{Disney Family does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Call your doctor regarding any medical condition. Never disregard your doctor's advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Disney Family site.}