Choosing the Best Mattress for Pregnancy

**Collaborative Post**

The early stages of pregnancy are often filled with joy and excitement as you bask in the glow of those two precious lines appearing on the test. Your mind wanders to all the wonderful possibilities ahead as you begin imagining life with your little one. However, as you progress into your fifth month, many expectant mums start experiencing significant lower back pain and stiffness, leading to uncomfortable nights even before baby arrives.

This discomfort tends to intensify during the night hours, primarily because medical professionals recommend side sleeping as the safest position during pregnancy. While this position is ideal for your growing bump, it can trigger considerable back pain if your mattress lacks proper firmness. A mattress that's too soft will inevitably sink under your weight, causing your spine to become misaligned and potentially exacerbating any existing discomfort.

When it comes to pregnancy comfort, mattresses with firmer support tend to be more beneficial. However, it's crucial to strike the right balance between support and comfort, keeping in mind that pregnancy is temporary. You'll want a mattress that remains comfortable long after you've given birth, and your body returns to its pre-pregnancy state.

While this might sound like a complex decision, it's quite straightforward when you focus on two key factors. First, consider your weight range to determine whether you need a medium or medium-firm mattress. Second, ensure your chosen mattress includes at least 3cm of foam for body-contouring comfort that adapts to your changing shape.

Mattress Firmness During Pregnancy

For most expectant mothers, we strongly recommend a medium mattress as it provides optimal support for side sleeping and suits the typical weight range of pregnant women. Medium mattresses are particularly well-suited for individuals weighing up to 180lbs. For those weighing between 180-220lbs, a medium-firm mattress might provide better support for your changing body.

If you share your bed with a partner who weighs less than 200lbs, a medium mattress should comfortably accommodate both of you. We generally suggest erring on the slightly softer side because your weight will naturally decrease after giving birth, and you may continue to lose additional weight in the postpartum period. A mattress that's too firm might become uncomfortable once you've returned to your pre-pregnancy weight.

That said, some women do prefer and benefit from a firmer sleeping surface. If you find that extra support helps alleviate your pregnancy-related discomfort, a medium-firm mattress is perfectly acceptable. This firmer option is also more suitable if your partner weighs over 200lbs.

Latex Foam is the Best Mattress Material

During pregnancy, side sleeping becomes crucial for both maternal and foetal well-being. This position requires a mattress that's both responsive and yielding enough to reduce pressure points across your body.

While memory foam might seem like an obvious choice, its characteristic slow response time can actually make it challenging to change positions - something you'll likely need to do frequently during pregnancy. Memory foam's tendency to absorb impact and retain its shape can make it difficult to get comfortable when you want to switch sides, potentially disrupting your already precious sleep.

Latex foam is a superior choice for pregnancy comfort - it intelligently contours to your body's changing shape while providing essential resistance and spring back properties that make the mattress delightfully bouncy and responsive. This enhanced responsiveness is particularly beneficial during pregnancy, as it makes position changes effortless and significantly improves overall bedtime comfort when you need it most.

What's more, latex foam boasts natural breathability properties that help regulate your body temperature. This means you're far less likely to experience uncomfortable night sweats - an absolute blessing during those warm summer evenings when pregnancy can make temperature regulation particularly challenging.

If you do get Memory Foam, choose a breathable variety!

During pregnancy, hormonal fluctuations and increased blood flow to your skin can cause you to feel warmer than usual and experience more sweating. The last thing you want during this time is a mattress that compounds these temperature regulation challenges by trapping heat against your body.

Unfortunately, traditional memory foam has excellent insulating properties that work against you in this situation. Its dense structure tends to trap and retain body heat while offering minimal breathability, which can turn your peaceful night's rest into an uncomfortable experience marked by excessive warmth and perspiration.

Pictured: Sleepeezee G4 Memory 5FT Kingsize Mattress, Available from Bedstar. The Online Bed Superstore.

Fortunately, mattress technology has evolved to address these concerns. Modern breathable memory foam varieties, such as graphite-infused options like the Sleepeezee incorporate special technologies that facilitate heat dissipation, helping maintain a comfortable sleeping temperature throughout the night.

Another brilliant innovation in this space is memory gel technology. These mattresses feature memory foam that's been cleverly infused with gel capsules specifically designed to prevent heat retention. The gel works by actively dissipating heat through strategically placed air channels within the foam structure. If you're interested in exploring this option further, our comprehensive memory gel mattress guide provides all the essential information you'll need to make an informed decision.

Hybrid and Spring technologies are best for Pregnancy

When it comes to optimal pregnancy comfort, hybrid and sprung mattresses truly shine. Their sophisticated pocket spring systems deliver targeted (zoned) support that surpasses the comfort levels typically achieved with pure foam options during pregnancy.

While pure foam mattresses certainly excel in providing general comfort, the distinctive bounce characteristic of sprung mattresses offers superior mobility, a crucial factor when you need to adjust positions frequently. Most contemporary hybrid and sprung mattresses cleverly combine pocket springs with either latex foam or memory foam top layers, making it remarkably straightforward to find your perfect pregnancy sleep solution.

Pictured: Sleepeezee Jessica Mattress, Available from Bedstar. The Online Bed Superstore.

However, it's crucial to avoid hybrid and sprung mattresses featuring open coil technology. These designs fall short in providing targeted support due to their interconnected spring structure. Additionally, the open coil construction can lead to increased partner disturbance, potentially disrupting your already precious sleep.

Did you discover any particularly effective strategies for improving your sleep quality during pregnancy? We'd love to hear about your personal tips and tricks in the comments below.