Wake your partner up if she falls asleep on her back
Pregnancy noticeably changes a woman’s posture. Her shoulders lean back, while her abdomen pushes forward. This shift in the body’s center of gravity puts extra strain on the spine, causing frequent lower back pain. A special pillow designed for pregnancy can provide some much-needed relief and would make a great gift for your partner [1].
At night, this pillow can be placed under the stomach or between the legs, making it easy for a pregnant woman to sleep on her side, which is the best sleeping position for her.
If during the night you notice that your partner is sleeping on her back, nudge her so she can turn on her side, even if you have to wake her. Pregnant women are encouraged to avoid sleeping on their back, because it causes the uterus to press on the inferior vena cava, posing a risk to the expectant mother and the baby [2].
Nobody expects you to watch over your partner all night to ensure she sleeps in the right position, but there is a hack for that. Your partner can sew a ping pong ball to the back of her pajamas (or tape it), she will feel it when she turns on her back and wake up to adjust her position [3].
You will probably hear your partner complain about lower abdominal discomfort often, describing it as if her tummy tightens and then relaxes. These are likely Braxton-Hicks contractions and are no reason for worry. Many women start experiencing them in the second half of their pregnancy and they are considered practice contractions, not the real ones that lead to labor [4]. If it gives her peace of mind your partner can ask her doctor about Braxton-Hicks contractions.
