Choosing the best mattress for pregnancy

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For many the first trimester of pregnancy are the easiest, still ecstatic from seeing those two lines on the test and your imagination running wild with all things baby. That is until usually around the fifth month, when ungodly lower back pain and stiffness kick in and the pregnancy discomfort and sleepless nights begin, even before baby has arrived!

The problem is often exasperated at night because the safest sleeping position is on your side, which can trigger back pain if your mattress isn’t firm enough – a mattress that is too soft will sink under your weight, misaligning your spine. 

Mattresses on the firmer side are better for Pregnancy, but you need to strike a balance between support and comfort because you won’t be pregnant forever, and your mattress needs to be comfy after you give birth. 

While the situation appears complicated, it isn’t – depending on your weight range, you need a medium or medium-firm mattress and a mattress with at least 3cm of foam for body-contouring comfort. 

Mattress Firmness During Pregnancy

We recommend a medium mattress during Pregnancy because this is suitable for side sleeping and suits most women’s weight range. Medium mattresses are perfect for people weighing up to 180lbs, after which a medium firm mattress provides better support for up to 220lbs. 

If you sleep with your partner and your partner weighs less than 200lbs, a medium mattress should be suitable for them. 

Erring on the soft side is recommended because after giving birth, you will lose several pounds and probably lose additional weight afterward. A medium-firm mattress might be too hard for you after losing weight. 

However, some women prefer a firmer mattress, and medium-firm is perfectly suitable if you find the extra support helpful. If your partner weighs over 200lbs, medium-firm is also a better firmness rating for them.

Latex Foam is the Best Mattress Material

Side sleeping is the safest position for mummy and baby, so you need a squishy and responsive mattress to reduce pressure on your body. 

While memory foam appears perfect, its low responsiveness makes tossing and turning difficult; it absorbs impacts and retains its shape, making it difficult for you to get comfortable when you want to switch sides. 

Latex foam is much better – latex foam contours to your body but provides resistance and springs back, making the mattress bouncier. 

This higher responsiveness is a godsend when pregnant because it makes it easy to change positions and maximises bedtime comfort. Additionally, latex foam is naturally breathable, so you are less likely to work up a sweat – perfect for those warm summer nights. 

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

Pregnancy makes you sweat due to hormonal changes and increased blood supply to the skin, so the last thing you want is a mattress that traps heat. 

Unfortunately, memory foam is a terrific insulator, trapping and holding heat with low breathability, which makes bedtime a sweat-fest. 

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

Thankfully, you can get breathable memory foam varieties in graphite memory foam (e.g., Sleepeezee G4) and charcoal-bamboo memory foam (e.g., Mlily Bamboo). These let heat escape to keep you cool. 

Pictured: MLILY Bamboo Mattress, Available from Bedstar. The Online Bed Superstore. 

Another option is memory gel – memory gel is foam infused with gel capsules that cannot retain heat; heat dissipates in the foam, escaping through air channels. Our memory gel mattress guide covers everything you need to know. 

Hybrid and Spring technologies are best for Pregnancy

Hybrid and sprung mattresses have pocket springs that provide targeted (zoned) support, giving you greater comfort during Pregnancy than pure foam. 

While pure foam mattresses are lovely for comfort, the bounce of a sprung mattress increases mobility, making it easier to switch positions. Most hybrid and sprung mattresses have a latex foam or memory foam top layer, so finding the perfect mattress isn’t tricky. 

For starters, check out the Silentnight Geltex 3000 Affluent (medium), Sleepeezee G3 (medium), Sleepeezee Jessica (medium), and Sealy Sark (medium-firm) – all of these mattresses offer exceptional comfort during Pregnancy. 

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

However, avoid hybrid and sprung mattresses with open coil technology – these will not provide targeted support because the springs are interconnected. Additionally, open coils can increase partner disturbance.   

Did you find anything that helped you get a better nights sleep during pregnancy? I would love to hear your tips and tricks below.

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