What is a body pillow used for? We all see a lot of women who use a body pillow at the latter part of their pregnancy. So, are they using it to be comfortable? Or it gives a bit of support? Further, are we talking about the same body pillow?
There are a lot of questions but rest assured that we are going to cover all of them in this article. We are going to discuss what a body pillow specifically is. At the same time, we are also going to talk about its different purposes. Lastly, we will give you some ways on how to use it properly so that you can enjoy all of its benefits.
What Is a Body Pillow?
This is a type of pillow that is narrow and longer than regular pillows used for lounging and sleeping. This is the design so that you can cradle it between your legs and allow you to sleep on the side that you are most comfortable. Also, its main purpose is to help relieve pressure points and aid in the proper alignment of your spine.
What Is a Body Pillow Used For?
Lets us talk about the five main benefits of using a body pillow.
1. Improvement of Spine Alignment
Before discussing how it drastically helps with the alignment of your spine, let us first talk about how lying on one side can affect your spine. When you are on your chosen side, your entire body weight is pressing up against your hips; therefore, it causes a lot of pain and discomfort.
This is one of the reasons why you feel sore when waking up. Your body will react to this discomfort by allowing your leg to slide forward, which will then lead to a lot of pressure on your back. When you use a body pillow, your muscles will be relaxed as it is propped on something that catches the pressure.
At the same time, you will not feel the twist and turn because your spine is already properly aligned. This will then also lead to a more restful sleep. Certainly, this will benefit people who suffer from back pains.
2. Relieves Pressure Points
The logic behind this is almost the same as the previous benefit that we discussed. But this time, it has a lot of emphasis on your unaligned hips that are trying to compensate for the weight of your lower body. The result is that your arm will feel a lot of pressure as you will unconsciously try to support your lower body with your upper body.
This usually happens with people who have wide shoulders and narrower torsos. If you have a body pillow supporting your hips and arms, the pressure will be lessened, and if you are in the proper position, it may even completely get rid of the pressure. By aligning the arms and hips, your body will be more relaxed.
3. No More Tossing and Turning
This is a prevalent issue that leads people to wake up in the middle of the night. But tossing and turning are actually brought about by the fact that your body cannot find the ideal position where your spine is aligned correctly or at least not putting too much pressure on the lower body. When it is unable to find that position, it will then turn restless which will be the final jolt, so you wake up.
Holding a partner is not really a solution because that produces too much heat which will not allow your body to relax. As such, having a body pillow against you produces the same “cuddling effect” without the added heat. More than that, you can place your hips in the proper position without worrying about hurting someone.
Experts also say that the constant use of the body pillow can train your brain to associate it with calmness and relaxation. With that in mind, your body will automatically go into sleep mode once in contact with a body pillow. Again, it is great because your body will not feel a lot of pressure when using it because your back is aligned properly.
4. Feel the Love
This might sound cheesy, but hugging a body pillow can replicate that of a warm hug of another person. In turn, your body will release hormones that will lull you to sleep. At the same time, this relaxing mode can help shut off your thoughts which will make it easier for you to sleep.
Think of this as like a stuffed toy that a child uses as a security blanket. The stuffed toy is a symbol of comfort and security. The same goes for the body pillow, only this time it is the adult version of a stuffed toy.
5. Personalized Sleep
Just like any other pillow, you can fluff it up or flatten it out in any way you want. This time, you can customize your sleeping position based on where you put most of the pillow fill. Some prefer to have the bulk near their neck, while others want it to be near their torso. The possibilities of sleeping positions are endless if you have a body pillow.
How Do You Use a Body Pillow?
Definitely, there are a lot of ways to use a body pillow, and it is just a mix of trial and error to see which position fits you. That being said, here is the general way of using it.
- Lay the pillow through the entire length of your body.
- If you sleep on your left side, put the pillow between your legs and then wrap your right leg around so that you are completely cradling the pillow. On the other hand, if you sleep on your right, then use your left leg instead.
- You can hug the body pillow or gently rest your hands on it, but it is best to also rest your head on it.
Final Thoughts
What is a body pillow used for? Surely, it serves a lot of purposes, but everything is geared towards both comfort and support. Most importantly, it will help you relax so that you will have a good night’s sleep. Are you still thinking of getting a body pillow? Surely, you will be off buying one!
