How to Use a Body Pillow

Having a comfortable bed is key in getting a good night’s rest. I mean, there’s nothing better than jumping into a warm, cozy bed after a stressful day, right? You immediately melt into the silky soft sheets and fall asleep as soon as your head hits on your pillow. But sometimes, just having comfortable sheets and pillows isn’t enough to get a good night’s rest. If you’re struggling with how to sleep comfortably at night, you might want to try out a body pillow.

Body pillows are meant to help improve your sleep quality and ability to fall asleep quicker. You can have the most comfortable mattress in the world, but if you don’t have the right type of pillow, you’re not going to be able to fall asleep at night. Which is exactly why you may need a body pillow.

In this article, we will be discussing how to use a body pillow, what body pillows are used for, and more. Invest in a body pillow and your sleep will improve overnight.

• What is a Body Pillow?
• How to Choose a Body Pillow
• Meet MedCline’s Therapeutic Body Pillow

What is a Body Pillow?

A body pillow is a long pillow that people can place between their legs while sleeping on their side. The main purpose of a body pillow is to increase comfort in bed, reduce pressure on joints, and improve spinal alignment. A body pillow is meant to help you get a better, more comfortable night's rest.

Benefits of using a body pillow

So, what are body pillows used for? A body pillow is used for a myriad of reasons. Using a body pillow can ultimately improve your overall sleep quality. And why is sleep important, you ask? Good sleep is how we are able to function properly throughout the day. Getting enough sleep is crucial for your mental and physical health. Sleep helps you be more alert, be more optimistic, and make better decisions. Getting enough sleep also reduces your risk of developing health conditions down the road. It’s crucial to prioritize your sleep to form healthy sleep habits that you can carry on throughout your life. In order to do that, you might just have to invest in a body pillow.

In addition to improving your sleep, some other benefits of using a body pillow include:

• Relieves joint pressure: A body pillow reduces pressure on your shoulders and hips, which can help you relax and sleep more comfortably on your side.
• Promotes proper spinal alignment for side and stomach sleepers:When you sleep with a body pillow in between your knees on your side, it helps to keep your body aligned in a comfortable position. This means no more waking up with an ache in your back. A body pillow promotes proper spinal alignment so you can wake up pain free.
• Improves blood circulation:If your head, neck, and body aren’t aligned properly at night, your blood can’t flow as well. Using a body pillow promotes proper blood circulation which will lead to a better night’s rest.
• Reduces tossing and turning while you sleep: When your body becomes uncomfortable at night, you will toss and turn trying to find a comfortable position. But using a body pillow helps to keep your body relaxed and comfortable throughout the night.
• Relieves sleep apnea symptoms and snoring: If you snore as a result of sleeping on your back, using a body pillow can help train you to sleep on your side which reduces sleep apnea symptoms and snoring.
• Calms your mind: Stress has a huge impact on your quality of sleep but using a body pillow can help your body and mind relax for a better night’s rest.

How to Choose a Body Pillow

There are many types of body pillowswith various shapes and materials to accommodate various needs and body types. Choosing a body pillow is not a one size fits all scenario. You need to find the best body pillow for you. The type of body pillow you choose will depend on your body type, preferred sleeping position, and long term goals. For example, are you using a body pillow to improve your overall sleep quality? Or, are you using a body pillow to target something more specific, like lower back relief and improved blood circulation? Depending on what you’re looking to achieve, you will need to take into consideration the shape and material on your pillow.

Body pillow shapes

There are various shapes of body pillows in order to accommodate different individuals. Those shapes include:

• Rectangular: A rectangular pillow is the most common and affordable shape and works for all body types.
• Cylindrical: A cylindrical pillow is ideal if you have a smaller bed, as it takes up less space than a rectangular pillow but still provides the same benefits.
• U-Shaped: A U-shaped pillow can help reduce joint pain and muscle aches. A U-shaped pillow provides support for the head, neck, and back and is ideal for pregnant women as it prevents you from rolling onto your back to sleep.
• J-Shaped: A J-shaped pillow is best for side-sleepers who want total body support. A J-shaped pillow provides relief from headaches, congestion, heartburn, and back pain. It also provides spinal support and improves alignment.
• C-Shaped: A C-shaped pillow is usually used by side-sleepers who want front and back support but don’t have the space for a U-shaped pillow in bed. A C-shaped pillow provides good support for the head and neck.

Fill material for body pillows

In addition to the different body pillow shapes, there are also different materials used. The materials commonly used in body pillows include:

• Memory foam: Memory foam molds to your shape as a response to body heat.
• Latex: Latex is an eco-friendly fill option that is responsive but still conforms to your head and neck.
• Down: Down feather is a soft and warm material that’s made from the feather of geese or ducks. However, down feather is not the best option for those with allergies.
• Microbeads: Microbeads are made out of plastic polystyrene and are plush and mold easily to your body shape.

How to Use a Body Pillow

So now that you know the benefits of a body pillow and the various types, you’re probably wondering: how do you sleep with a body pillow? It’s important you understand the correct body pillow positioning so you can get all the benefits of using one. Here is how to use each type body pillow correctly:

Rectangular:

1. Wrap your arm around the pillow to reduce pressure on your shoulder
2. Place the pillow in between your knees to support your spine’s proper alignment
3. Avoid placing your entire leg on the pillow as this can cause back pain

Cylindrical:

1. Wrap your arm around the pillow
2. Place the pillow in between your knees

U-Shaped:

1. Place your head on the curve of the U
2. Hug one of its arms
3. The other arm of the pillow will stop you from sleeping on your back

J-Shaped:

1. Place your head on the curled end of the pillow
2. Place the straight end of the pillow in between your legs

C-Shaped:

1. Put the curve of the C to your back so it can support your head and neck
2. Put the bottom end of the pillow in between your thighs for support

Knowing how to use a body pillow will help you achieve a better night’s rest. Ultimately, you want to use your body pillow in a way that is most comfortable for you. But following these steps on how to sleep with a body pillow will help you get the most out of it. It’s important to use your body pillow every single night so your body can get adjusted to the positioning of it. The different shapes of body pillows have different benefits, so make sure you choose a shape that is good for your specific situation. Regardless of the type of body pillow you use, using a body pillow properly will benefit your health and your sleep quality.

Meet MedCline’s Therapeutic Body Pillow

There’s nothing worse than not being able to find a comfortable sleeping position and waking up with your entire body in pain. But with MedCline’s therapeutic body pillow, that won’t be an issue. MedCline’s therapeutic body pillow is a full-length, J-shaped pillow that is uniquely designed to increase comfortability as you sleep. It has a patented, seamless design so it won’t dig into your neck like other contoured body pillows do. The adjustable memory foam stuffing of the pillow molds to your body’s shape so you can sleep soundly throughout the night. The pillow is designed with a nest for your neck and support for your knees so you’ll never have to wake up in pain again. It’s designed for side-sleepers and provides the best positioning for your neck, body, and hips.

MedCline’s Body Pillow is helpful for a myriad of health issues, including:

• Sciatica
• Lower back pain
• Neck pain
• Spinal alignment
• Pregnancy aches and pains
• Fibromyalgia
• Medical conditions that benefit from side sleeping

There’s no reason why you should be settling for a restless night’s sleep. Invest in a high quality, comfortable body pillow and you’ll have the best sleep of your night, every night.